BUSHWICK, Brooklyn — A massive fire that spread to five residential buildings in Brooklyn and forced residents to evacuate Tuesday night is under control.
The fast-moving fire began about 10 p.m. Tuesday on the first floor of a 3-story row house on DeKalb Avenue in Bushwick. It took more than three hours and more than 200 firefighters to place to under control, according to the FDNY.
“I hate to say it’s a typical fire in the area,” FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said. “Over the years many fires like this that spread quickly and cause quite a bit of homelessness.”
The FDNY said they’re still fighting pockets of fire in some of the buildings. Part of the affected apartments have collapsed and three of the five sustained severe fire damage.
Wind was not a factor in the overnight fire, according to Nigro.
Drone video showed heavy flames shooting from the roof as firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze.
The FDNY said 11 people suffered minor injuries in the fire.
Wednesday morning, a Red Cross spokesperson said 40 people, including 10 children were left homeless as a result of the blaze. At least 50 people were evacuated from the buildings in total.
A church and a karate school on the bottom floor were destroyed in the fire.
The cause of the fire is still unknown.
