More than 20 firefighters battling a New York City house fire on Friday were injured trying to extinguish the flames, authorities said.
The New York Fire Department said the four-alarm fire broke out in a duplex home on Shotwell Avenue in Staten Island. A call about the fire came in around 1:30 p.m. when the flames began to spread rapidly, authorities said.
“With the amount of fire on our arrival and the wind conditions, it was a tough fire,” FDNY Department Chief John Hodgens told reporters.
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Firefighters battle a house fire in Staten Island, New York on Friday. (WNYW)
Firefighters began working to put out the blaze and at least two were trapped in the house before one could get out. The other was rescued, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said..
Three firefighters were seriously injured and 19 others suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the FDNY said. The seriously injured firefighters are in stable condition.
“They are alert. They are talking. They are making jokes, for which we are very grateful,” Kavanagh said.
First responders found a large area of flames in the rear of the house. There appeared to be a partial collapse in that part of the house.
New York City firefighters on the roof of a house from a fire that injured 20 firefighters on Friday. (WNYW)
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The cause of the fire has not been determined, but authorities say it started in the back of the house between two buildings and spread quickly.
“It was definitely what we considered a closed decision today,” Hodgens said.
