Citizen Summary

Updates

UPDATE: According to FDNY officials, all residents have been accounted for and there are no additional patients. 

Three people died, four were injured, and two are unaccounted for after a devastating three-alarm fire in an Elmhurst multi-family home early Saturday morning, firefighters say. 

At 5:37 a.m. firefighters responded to a report of a fire at 90-31 48th Avenue. 

In a press briefing, Chief of Fire Operations Thomas Richardson said the first units arrived in two minutes, where they discovered the fire was “advanced”, meaning the blaze had already spread through all three floors of the building. 

The fire was quickly raised to a third alarm, and 145 firefighters and EMS personnel responded in total. 
Chief Richardson described the extensive damage to the building, including a roof collapse and structure collapse on the second floor. 

According to Chief Stephen Russo of the Bureau of EMS Operations, three residents evacuated the building, and two were transported to area hospitals for minor injuries. 

Firefighters located three people who were pronounced dead on arrival. 

Chief Richardson stated that eight people are believed to have lived in the building, and two remain unaccounted for. The search is ongoing, and it is unknown if they were in the building at the time. 

Two firefighters sustained minor injuries in the blaze—one of whom fell through a hole in the floor while entering the building. 

The fire has now been deemed under control and it has not spread to neighboring buildings. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, but it likely started on the first floor.

Three Killed, Four Injured in Fatal Three-Alarm Fire

Incident reported at Corona Ave & 48th Ave.

Firefighters are responding to a reported residential fire.

A Citizen user's video shows a large amount of smoke in the area where the fire was reported.

Three fire and engines and two trucks have been dispatched to work on the fire.

Video from a Citizen user shows firetrucks on scene.

The address reported for this incident has changed to 90-31 48th Ave.

According to an FD update this is being upgraded to a two-alarm fire.

The FDNY reports two men have suffered minor injuries thus far.

Firefighters have upgraded the blaze to a third alarm, requesting addition units to assist.

Firefighters report they have not found any people trapped in the fire after a primary search.

Firefighters state two people may have died in the fire upon arrival. This information is not yet confirmed.

A firefighter is suffering a minor injury, the FDNY states.

Firefighters have still not confirmed the two civilians who are believed to be deceased.

A caller reported a gas odor in the area near 52nd Ave, which firefighters state is due to the smoke rising from the fire.

Firefighters confirm two civilians suffered minor injuries and two are deceased.

EMS personnel are also treating the firefighter suffering minor injuries.

The FDNY confirms a second firefighter suffered minor injuries.

Firefighters and police state the fire is under control.

An updated report from the FDNY states a third person died in the fire.

On Sunday morning, FDNY officials told Citizen that all residents have been accounted for and there are no additional patients in the incident.