By Tom Nicholson
“It was a pretty big fire,” said an FDNY spokesman. “But there were no inhabitants living in the house and no injuries to any residents.”
Capt. John Maloney, of Ladder 138 in Corona, suffered burns and head and neck injuries after a ceiling in the structure collapsed on him just as he ushered other firefighters out of the burning building, a Fire Department spokesman said.
Maloney was treated at Elmhurst Hospital and was released Saturday.
The three-alarm blaze at 12-18 30th Rd. was reported at about 1:23 a.m. and was followed by calls for additional units at 1:24 a.m. and 1:51 a.m. Some 140 firefighters from 33 units were called to the fire and had it under control by about 5 a.m., the FDNY said.
The Fire Department did not release the names of the other firefighters injured.
An FDNY spokesman said three firefighters who suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze were treated at the scene of the fire and released.
Another firefighter was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan after suffering second-degree burns on his knees, and the captain was taken to Elmhurst Hospital with neck and back injuries, the spokesman said.
Fire officials Monday said the cause of fire had not yet been determined.
The flames originated on the second floor of the house, went through the 20-foot-by-40-foot wooden structure's roof and caused the rear portion of the building to collapse.
Houses on both sides of the gutted house received minor damage in the fire, the Fire Department spokesman said.
Reach Reporter Tom Nicholson by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by calling 718-229-0300, Ext. 157.
