A fast-moving Queens fire on Sunday morning left one person critically injured and more than 20 people and pets homeless, Fire Department officials said.
According to the FDNY, the two-alarm blaze broke out at about 8:25 a.m. on Dec. 29 inside of 86-06 91st Ave. in Woodhaven. Though the cause remains under investigation, firefighters recovered an e-bike and a lithium-ion battery — a notorious firestarter in recent years — from the charred dwelling.
Members of Engine Company 293 and Ladder Company 143, located just four blocks away from their firehouse, were the first to arrive on the scene — and encountered heavy smoke and fire blowing out of the second-floor windows of a two-story attached row house.
More than 100 firefighters, in all, responded to the inferno and used three hose lines to knock the fire down, with the blaze being brought under control at about 9:50 a.m. Sunday Search efforts throughout the structure were hampered by debris but turned up negative.
FDNY officials noted that 16 adults, five children and multiple pets self-evacuated from the burning building. Members of the American Red Cross responded to provide assistance to them.
