Two firefighters were injured wrestling a massive fire that ripped through three Brooklyn buildings Saturday, officials said.
The blistering blaze broke out on the first floor of an abandoned building at 1138 Bushwick Ave. near Putnam Ave. in Bushwick at about 6 p.m. and quickly spread to the adjoining structures.
Taylor Winum, 25, said he’d only been living in a second-floor apartment next to the abandoned building for a week when a firefighter kicked in his door and told him to get out.
“At least I’m alive,” he said, taking the night’s events in stride. “It’ll be a good bar story.”
One of Winum’s neighbors had just stepped out for Chinese food when the fire broke out. He returned in less than 10 minutes and an hour later was still watching, dinner in his hand, as firefighters doused the blaze.
“I’ve lost my appetite,” said Aidan O’Grady, 22.
More than 130 smoke eaters fought the blaze, which was declared under control at about 7:30 p.m.
Two firefighters were taken to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center with minor injuries. No other injuries were reported, officials said.
FDNY Deputy Chief James Smithwick called the fire “suspicious” and said a handful of people seen outside the building when the fire broke out probably know what sparked it.
“The fire is being considered suspicious because of the amount of fire,” Smithwick said, noting the difficulties of putting out blazes in abandoned buildings. “The firemen did a tremendous job of containing [it].”
FDNY fire marshals were working to determine the cause of the blaze Saturday night.
