NEW YORK (TNND) — Four people were killed, including a 3-year-old boy, when a fast-moving fire tore through a building in Queens on Monday afternoon, according to officials.
“We’re mourning the loss of four New Yorkers after today’s devastating four-alarm fire in Flushing,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a post on X. “My heart is with their families, loved ones and every neighbor impacted.
The names of the victims were not immediately known.
Several others, including a few first responders, were hurt in the fire.
The flames forced some residents to jump from windows to escape the heat and smoke.
“Upon arrival, we had heavy fire on all three floors of this building. In addition to that, we noticed three jumpers, three people that jumped from the upper floors, three victims. There was also a victim trapped at the second floor, which our members removed via portable ladder,” New York Fire Department Chief Kevin Woods told reporters, per CBS.
The fire broke out around 12:30 p.m. in a three-story building, fire officials said. The structure housed a business on the ground floor, with residential apartments above.
The blaze quickly escalated to a four-alarm fire, drawing more than 200 firefighters and emergency personnel to the scene. Thick smoke and intense flames spread rapidly through the building, trapping some occupants inside.
Firefighters battled the blaze for more than two hours under dangerous conditions. Several firefighters were hurt during the response, including some who were temporarily trapped when a staircase collapsed.
The fire was eventually brought under control.
“Thank you to the FDNY firefighters and EMS workers who rushed in within minutes, risking their lives to rescue residents and bring the fire under control,” Mamdani said on X. “Several were injured and we’re wishing them a full recovery. Residents have been displaced and the building suffered significant damage.”
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Mamdani said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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