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High Winds Create "Blowtorch Effect" In 5-Alarm Brooklyn Fire
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 20, 2011
Modified Feb 20, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 20, 2011
Modified Feb 20, 2011
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Last night, firefighters battled a five-alarm blaze in a six-floor East Flatbush apartment building that became especially challenging with 50 MPH winds. At least 20 firefighters were injured while four civilians also had injuries—and the body of an elderly woman was found on the 6th floor. The East 29th Street fire was called in at 6:40 p.m.l and over 200 firefighters responded, but the wind conditions meant hours of work, as the fire wasn't under control until after 2 a.m. today.
The Daily News reports, "Fire officials said the high winds - with gusts of more than 50 mph - created a blowtorch effect. When firefighters burst into the building, entering apartments, the wind rushed through and intensified the flames." The fire apparently started on the 4th floor, but it quickly consumed the 5th and 6th floors. Fire Chief Edward Kilduff said, "This was bad because of the wind... We had to evacuate very quickly because basically the fire chased us right down the hall and down the stairs."
Residents of the building, which has about 70 units, ran out into the cold; some were in their bare feet. One tenant, a 34-year-old man, said, "I climbed down the fire escape from the sixth floor with my 2-month-old daughter in my arms... I smelled smoke while I was going to give my daughter a bath. All I could think about was my daughter. I grabbed her and that's it. I went out the window and carried her down." Another tenant who said she saw children in pajamas running out said, "I'm alive, my husband is alive, material things you can replace. But it's just sad you don't have a home to go to."
The Red Cross set up a shelter at a nearby school while other local businesses were giving displaced tenants items.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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