On Wednesday, December 20, 2023, around noon, a massive fire broke out at a six-story Queens apartment building. More than 14 people were injured, and an estimated 68 families (160 people) are without a home. The 108-unit building is located on 47 th Avenue in Sunnyside.
The fire in the E-shaped building broke out on the top floor and quickly escalated as multiple firefighters worked to extinguish it. The fire moved to three of the four wings of the building, prompting the FDNY to upgrade the response from three to four and then five alarms. More than 130 firefighters responded to the scene.
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said the fire was caused by “an unauthorized construction use of a torch.” Kavanagh said, “I think it’s a good reminder that the cause of many fires is preventable. And we all should really make sure we’re being safe.”
According to Kavanagh, residents won’t be able to gather their things due to the extensive damage to the building caused by the large fire. Not only did the fires wreak havoc, but the water also cascaded throughout the building, effectively destroying dozens of units.
The American Red Cross is working to get assistance to the displaced residents, who are homeless right before the holidays. Residents are being housed at the Children’s Lab School, located at 45-45 42nd Street between Queens Boulevard and 47th Avenue for the time being, but many of the damaged apartments will be closed for much longer.
