Port Richmond fire flares up overnight, is put out again

PORT RICHMOND, Staten Island (WABC) -- Firefighters responded Friday morning at a two-alarm fire on Staten Island and were then forced to jump back into action after the vacant house rekindled hours later.

The fire initially broke out on the second floor of the house on Taylor Street in Port Richmond around 12:15 a.m.

Firefighters brought the fire under control with no injuries.

But as city officials kept an eye on the vacant building, they spotted smoke again rising from the second floor just after 4:30 a.m.

It took hours for firefighters to once again bring the fire under control. It was out before 7 a.m.

Firefighters were initially told by neighbors that squatters possibly were in the building, but none was found.

The street was coated with ice from the water used on the fire.

Police closed numerous local streets, including Richmond Terrace for traffic control, because of the ice.

The sanitation department sanded and salted the sidewalk and street, because of runoff down the block, but conditions were slippery.

The buildings department condemned the building, and it will be torn down.