Shortly before noon, a five-alarm fire erupted in a group of nine stores on Lee Avenue in Williamsburg, resulting in billowing columns of smoke rising into the sky. Ten firefighters from the city’s fire department were taken to the hospital.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene following a 911 made at approximately 11:56 a.m. to combat the blaze. By 1:30 p.m., a total of 168 firefighters were present at the location, according to AM New York Metro.
Among the occupants of the building were various establishments including a discount store, shoe store, chocolate store, kosher restaurant, bridal store, optician, and exterminator.
The firefighters presented with different conditions, which included “one red tag, one orange tag, one yellow tag, and five green tag firefighters, along with one member of EMS,” as stated by an FDNY spokesperson.
Fortunately, each of the firefighters are expected to make a complete recovery.
“Everyone at this time is stable, the chief saw the red tag member earlier today, he is awake and alert.”
During a press conference, FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens explained that the fire “had nine stories involved.”
Firefighters had to force entry into all nine stores as numerous were secured with roll-down gates, Hodgens explained.
“We used saws, we cut the gates and we were able to get in,” Hodgens said. “It takes a lot of staffing, a lot of hard work. It’s not an easy task.”
Watch the update from FDNY:
The fire was under control by the time the press conference started, around 4:30 p.m.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Video footage capturing the flames and thick smoke was shared on social media.
Watch:
