A massive blaze scorched the third and fourth floors Bay Ridge apartment building on Nov. 23 — injuring two residents and a firefighter, officials said.
Witnesses say they saw heavy smoke and flames billowing out apartment windows at the corner of Fourth Avenue and 101st Street at 2:45 pm. More than 60 firefighters were dispatched to combat the blaze, which was doused within a few minutes, according to professional photographer Sal Galvano, who was on the scene.
“The firefighters did a great job, took charge right away, got the ladders going, and got in under control fast,” said Galvano.
An FDNY spokesman said that two residents and one firefighter suffered minor injuries and were treated at Lutheran Medical Center. The cause of the blaze was still under investigation by Monday evening.
Firefighters left the scene at 4:39 pm after giving every part of the burning apartments a good drenching.
“You have to be sure all the embers are out, even when the fire’s knocked out,” said spokesman Frank Dwyer.
But that procedure was an unwelcome necessity to workers at the 101 Restaurant and Lounge, an Italian eatery inside the building’s ground floor.
The flames never touched the neighborhood hotspot, but workers had to close for the night to sop up all the water firefighters left behind.
“The water the fire department put upstairs came down on us,” said the restaurant’s owner, who would only identify himself as Tony. The restaurant re-opened the following day, he said.
Building owner Leonard Schwanz could not be reached for comment by our deadline.
Reach reporter Will Bredderman at (718) 260–4507 or e-mail him at wbredderman@cnglocal.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/WillBredderman
