A tragic five-alarm fire tore through multiple residential buildings in Flushing on Saturday, claiming the life of an elderly woman and injuring nearly two dozen others.
The New York City Police Department reported that a 78-year-old woman was rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Officials have not yet released the name of the victim, who was among several residents caught in the fast-moving flames.
The FDNY was first alerted to the blaze on 41st Road shortly before 10 a.m. as smoke began billowing from a home located between College Point Road and Frame Place.
The intensity of the fire forced commanders to elevate the response from four alarms to a fifth alarm by noon as the inferno jumped to two neighboring structures.
Approximately 270 FDNY and EMS personnel descended on the scene to combat the heavy fire and provide medical aid to those escaping the buildings.
While the elderly woman was the only confirmed fatality, at least 22 other people were treated for various injuries throughout the afternoon.
One civilian remains in critical condition, while another suffered minor injuries during the chaotic evacuation.
The majority of those hospitalized were members of the FDNY and EMS who faced dangerous conditions while searching for trapped residents.
Witnesses at the scene described a harrowing environment as rescue teams worked desperately to keep the fire from spreading further down the block.
Expressing the grief shared by the neighborhood, witness Yezen Al-Swaiti spoke to reporters about the emotional weight of seeing the destruction.
“It’s horrible. It’s sad. I can’t describe it,” said Al-Swaiti per NBC New York.
Others nearby recounted the extreme risks taken by first responders as they navigated the burning homes to reach those inside.
Describing a narrow escape for a firefighter on the exterior of a building, Al-Swaiti noted the intensity of the rescue operations.
“One firefighter fell off the window, but he held to the rope,” said Al-Swaiti added.
Al-Swaiti also recalled seeing the efforts of the paramedics as they attempted to treat the victims pulled from the smoking ruins.
“I’ve seen only one lady, (an) old lady, on the ambulance. She survived, thank God,” said Al-Swaiti per NBC New York.
Firefighters finally gained control of the blaze shortly after 1 p.m., though crews remained on the scene to extinguish hot spots.
Department officials noted that while many first responders were hospitalized, none of their injuries are currently considered life-threatening.
The FDNY fire marshals are currently at the scene investigating what may have sparked the initial flames in the residential neighborhood.
Additional details regarding the extent of the property damage or the cause of the fire have not yet been made public.
Crews continued to operate at the scene through Saturday afternoon to ensure the area was safe for the remaining residents of the block.