9 people injured after massive fire rips through apartment building in Ridgewood
RIDGEWOOD, Queens (WABC) -- Nearly a dozen people were injured after a massive fire ripped through an apartment building in Queens on Saturday morning.
The three-alarm fire broke out around 4 a.m. at an apartment building on Flushing Avenue in Ridgewood.
Videos showed firefighters on scene as heavy flames and thick smoke billowed from the apartment building. On Saturday morning, crews continued to try to contain what FDNY Assistant Chief David Sims called a "deep-seated and stubborn fire."
According to the FDNY, the fire started in a tire repair shop on the ground floor before quickly spreading to the second and third floors. Responding units started spreading water and foam to douse the flames, but had to retreat when part of the ceiling collapsed.
The FDNY says the fire was fueled by thousands of tires.
"Any time you have rubber burning, a tire fire, it's a deep-seated fire. You put water on it, but it continues to burn," Sims said.
"We pumped hundreds of thousands of gallons of water on this, and we're still not under control. We're going to be here for a while."
Four firefighters suffered minor burns while battling the fire. Five other people were also injured. They were all taken to the hospital for treatment.
Resident Robert Rodonis described his escape from the fire to Eyewitness News.
"Once you opened the door, the smoke came in. So, I just grabbed what I could and came out. We got the dog, the cat up there," Rodonis said.
Building manager Jesus Maldonado said he rushed back in to alert residents about the fire.
"When I was told this was on fire, I ran back up, and I asked everyone to get out of the building. We have a lot of elderly people in my building," Maldonado said.
More than 120 firefighters and EMS personnel responded to the fire.
The Red Cross says it is providing emergency assistance to at least 19 adults and 6 children, including financial aid and temporary housing.
While fire officials know the fire started in the tire shop, exactly what sparked it remains under investigation.
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