Six Firefighters Injured in Brooklyn Restaurant Blaze
A four-alarm fire engulfed a Williamsburg building housing three restaurants, leading to minor injuries for six firefighters and a Mayday call.
A massive fire tore through a commercial building in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood on Saturday, resulting in injuries to six firefighters. The blaze, which escalated to four alarms, erupted just before 5:30 p.m. in a building located on North 5th Street between Bedford Avenue and Berry Street.
The fire originated in one of the three restaurants occupying the building and subsequently spread to the adjacent eateries. Among the establishments affected was Juliette, a neighborhood restaurant that has been in operation for over two decades. All three restaurants were evacuated.
During the firefighting efforts, approximately 35 minutes after the operation began, a smoke explosion occurred, prompting firefighters to issue a Mayday call. No restaurant patrons were inside the building at the time of the explosion. The incident also involved a localized roof collapse, which temporarily forced firefighters to evacuate the building before they re-entered to combat the flames.
Fire officials reported that the fire was brought under control around 8:30 p.m. The six injured firefighters sustained minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. No other injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The Department of Buildings dispatched personnel to the scene to assess the structural integrity of the building following the extensive blaze.
