A tragic four-alarm fire tore through a residential building in Flushing on Thursday afternoon, claiming the lives of four people — including a 3-year-old child — and forcing desperate residents to leap from windows to escape the flames.
The deadly blaze erupted around 12:30 p.m. along College Point Boulevard near Avery and Pople Avenues. According to officials, the victims included an adult man, two other adults, and a young boy. Authorities have not yet released their names as families are being notified.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed sorrow following the incident, calling it a devastating loss for the community. He offered condolences to the families and praised first responders for their swift and courageous efforts. Several firefighters and emergency personnel were injured while battling the flames and are expected to recover.
The three-story building sustained heavy structural damage, leaving multiple residents displaced. City officials confirmed that support services are being arranged as fire investigators work to determine the cause.
During the intense firefighting operation, a staircase inside the building collapsed while two firefighters were inside, triggering a mayday alert. Additional crews were rushed to the scene. The injured firefighters were transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries and are expected to survive.
Three victims — including the toddler — were found deceased inside the building. A fourth victim was pronounced dead while being transported to the hospital after suffering severe injuries.
The fire took more than two hours to fully extinguish, with approximately 230 firefighters responding to the emergency. Officials noted that strong winds complicated the operation, allowing the fire to spread more rapidly throughout the structure.
Several other residents were injured but survived. A 44-year-old man, 59-year-old man, and 67-year-old woman were hospitalized in stable condition. Four additional individuals — two women and two men ranging in age from their 30s to early 50s — were also treated and are reported to be stable.
Authorities continue to investigate what sparked the fire as the Flushing community mourns the heartbreaking loss.
