Officials say one firefighter is lucky to be alive after an air conditioner fell out of a window and hit him.
The fire broke out on the first floor of one multi-family home on Madison Street near Seneca Avenue just before 3:25 a.m.
Fire burned up the shaft and through the roof of one three-story building before spreading to three others.
As flames consumed one apartment, they dislodged a window air conditioner that plummeted to the sidewalk, falling onto firefighters below.
"In the fire building, the roof has collapsed into the top floor and extended to the buildings next door. we vacated four of the buildings behind us. We did have several minor injuries to firefighters, including one firefighter that was struck in the head with an air conditioner that fell out the window. He has been transported to the hospital conscious and alert, but in significant pain," said Chief of Department John Esposito, FDNY.
Five firefighters were injured. At least two firefighters suffered serious injuries and were taken to the hospital.
One resident is also being treated for minor injuries at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital
Thirty families have been displaced by the fire as all four buildings affected will get vacate orders by the Office of Emergency Management.
A nearby school is being used as a temporary shelter for residents.
"This is a response from a whole of government approach that includes FDNY, EMS, DOB, MTA," said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. "And we are so thankful for their work to ensure that even at a fire of this scale, there was no loss of life."
Investigators will work to determine the cause of the fire.
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