A fire that tore through a house in Queens Village Saturday afternoon injured 14 — including 11 firefighters.
Firefighters were called to the block Francis Lewis Blvd between Hillside Ave. and 89th Ave. shortly after 4 p.m. to battle the five-alarm fire that destroyed seven two-story brick homes, officials said.
“Emergency services responded within two minutes, but this was a very intense fire,” said FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer.
Officials said they were looking at some propane cylinders in the back alley of the buildings that were leaking and may have fueled the fire.
“We’re not going to speculate but there were some propane cylinders in the back that the fire extended to,” Esposito said. “Our Hazmat companies were on site to relieve the propane. That would accelerate the fire.”
More than 200 firefighters, paramedics and paramedics responded to the scene, Pfeifer said.
Eleven of the fourteen injured were firefighters and all injuries were minor, officials said. But today’s extreme heat made it a difficult two-hour operation to bring the fire under control.
“ It was a very difficult firefight and very hot today, very humid. It takes a toll on our firefighters, says FDNY Acting Chief John Esposito. “It was a very dangerous operation on a very hot day today and I’m very, very proud of the fantastic work that our firefighters did.”
Fire officials were still investigating the source of the fire late Saturday night, but said no foul play was suspected.
FDNY
Firefighters were called to a private home on Francis Lewis Blvd just after 4 p.m. to put out the five-alarm fire that tore through seven buildings.
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