1 injured, 14 displaced after fire tears through Westchester Square home
Firefighters responded to 2137 Glebe Ave. at around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday.
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One person is recovering with minor injuries after a fire ripped through the basement of a multifamily home in Westchester Square late Thursday afternoon.
Firefighters were called to Glebe Avenue just before 3 p.m., where flames could be seen racing through a basement window as thick smoke filled the street, forcing neighbors to run outside in fear.
“I didn’t know what to do, honestly,” said Henry Tigre, who lives nearby. “I was mostly praying that nobody was inside, because nobody wants to go through a fire and live this experience.”
The FDNY says 79 first responders rushed to the scene. Tigre streamed the response on the Citizen app as firefighters climbed ladders and broke through windows
“I saw all the smoke coming out,” Tigre said. “Then I went back to my house, smelled it, and said, ‘Wow — this is bad.’”
Below-freezing temperatures complicated firefighting efforts. A nearby fire hydrant was frozen solid, forcing crews to draw water from another hydrant farther down the block. Water quickly turned to ice as it spilled across the sidewalk.
Seven engines and ladder trucks packed the narrow street as firefighters battled the blaze.
Another resident, Horace, says he was on the road when his landlord called to tell him there was a fire next door.
“I raced over here to check and see if everything is OK with my building,” he said.
When he arrived, he found blown-out windows, a crushed air-conditioning unit, and soot covering the exterior of the home. Glass littered the sidewalk as firefighters continued working inside.
The American Red Cross tells News 12 at least 14 tenants are being assisted with temporary apartments.
Crews remained on scene Tuesday night as investigators worked to determine what caused the fire.
