The FDNY battled a two-alarm house fire in Springfield Gardens on Monday night that left two residents and two firefighters with injuries.
FDNY units responded to multiple 911 calls just before 11 p.m. on June 19 at 178-62 Crandall Ave. and found heavy smoke conditions and people jumping from the windows of the two-story private dwelling, according to witnesses at the scene.
The response included 106 firefighters and EMS personnel from 25 units and it went to a second alarm upon their arrival, according to the FDNY. The operation was initially hampered when crews had trouble cutting gas to the home and a Con Edison crew was called in to assist.
When the north wall of the house began to buckle, firefighters were withdrawn from the building as heavy fire consumed the wood-frame building and an attic joist collapsed.
Units fought the fire in a defensive operation deploying a tower ladder and three hose lines to knock down the main body of the blaze which was placed under control at 1:02 a.m.
Four firefighters and three civilians were transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital and one civilian refused medical attention at the scene, according to the FDNY. The civilians were treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries. The FDNY Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
Inspectors from the city’s Department of Buildings were at the scene Tuesday morning and observed extensive structural damage from the fire, with the roof and second floor having collapsed into the first floor.
Their preliminary report noted the potential for further collapse at the building, which endangered neighboring properties at 178-60 Crandell Ave. and 178-66 Crandell Ave.
In the interest of public safety, the Department issued a Full Vacate Order on 178-62 Crandall Ave. due to the severe extent of the fire damage.
The Department also issued Full Vacate Orders at 178-60 Crandell Ave. and 178-66 Crandell Ave. due to the risk of collapse at 178-62.
All displaced residents were offered emergency relocation services by the American Red Cross.
Additional reporting by Lloyd Mitchell.
