NEW YORK — About 22 firefighters New York Fire Department (FDNY) firefighters were injured battling a house fire in Staten Island on Friday.
The house fire broke out at a duplex house on Shotwell Avenue on Friday in Arden Heights just before 1:30 p.m., FDNY said, according to WPIX. The fire became a four-alarm fire.
Part of the house in the back collapsed while fire crews were inside, according to WPIX.
None of the firefighters were trapped in the collapse. FDNY Chief Brian Gorman told WCBS that some firefighters were trapped in the fire.
FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens told WPIX that one of the firefighters who was trapped had made their way to the balcony on the second floor and jumped down. The other firefighter who was trapped “transmitted a mayday signal in distress. That firefighter was rescued on the second floor of the house.
“As the firefighters were inside searching for occupants, the windows failed and the wind blew the fire intensely into the building, right at the firefighters,” Hodgens said at a news conference, according to WNBC.
Nineteen firefighters sustained non-life-threatening injuries, FDNY said, according to WPIX. Another suffered smoke inhalation while operating a hose nozzle. That firefighter and the two firefighters who were trapped were taken to the hospital for treatment. All are in serious but stable condition.
WPIX reported that the fire at the house is under control. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. Three families have been displaced as a result of the fire and the Red Cross is working to assist them.
No further information has been released.
