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Fires in South Williamsburg and Brownsville, Brooklyn injure 10 FDNY members and 3 children
By
Verónica Del Valle
Published Aug 20, 2023
Modified Aug 20, 2023
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Courtesy Instagram/@FDNY
By
Verónica Del Valle
Published Aug 20, 2023
Modified Aug 20, 2023
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Two major fires in both South Williamsburg and Brownsville, Brooklyn left 10 FDNY members injured along with three young children, who officials said were left home alone on Sunday.
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said the Brownsville fire started around 11 a.m. on the 11th floor of a 14-story Livonia Avenue building. First responders found three children, ages 4, 5 and 8, alone and unconscious inside the building after they broke down the door.
Responders performed CPR on the children before they were hospitalized in critical, but stable condition late Sunday afternoon. Officials are investigating the fire, and why the children were left home alone. Their father was taken into custody, authorities said.
An investigation is also underway into the severe five-alarm fire in South Williamsburg that destroyed several businesses and injured several firefighters and one EMS responder, officials said Sunday.
Fire officials said the blaze broke out around noon at Lee Avenue and Hooper Street, and was reportedly under control by 4 p.m. Nine stores were severely damaged as a result, though the majority were closed and locked for the day, authorities said.
City Councilmember Lincoln Restler, who represents the parts of the area, visited the street as firefighters responded. He said the devastation to the neighborhood’s central commercial stretch is hitting owners and workers hard.
"We had many dozens of workers that used to work at this corner and now have no job at all, and many small business owners who poured blood and sweat and tears into building out great… small businesses that are just gone,” Restler told Gothamist on Sunday.
Businesses on the block included a chocolate shop, a Judaica store and the popular Kosher restaurant Grill On Lee.
The Fire Department said 10 FDNY members, including one EMS responder, were injured while battling the blaze. No civilians were hurt.
Department officials said they don't know which store the fire started in.
This story has been updated with new information and comment from City Councilmember Lincoln Restler.
Contributed reporting by Phil Corso.
Tagged
public safety
brooklyn
Verónica Del Valle
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