Two-alarm fire destroys Flatbush Ave. medical clinic

November 26, 2018 By Todd Maisel Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Firefighters battle two-alarm fire in a medical clinic on Flatbush Avenue. Eagle photos by Todd Maisel

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A young clinic worker barely made it out of a smoke filled medical clinic on Flatbush Avenue near Avenue I in Flatbush on Monday afternoon.

The fire went to a two-alarm blaze at about 2:15 p.m., bringing in nearly 100 firefighters to battle the quickly spreading fire, officials said.

No injuries were reported at this time, fire officials said.

Clinic worker Martene Bonny said she tried to put out the fire, but was unable. Instead, she was pulled out through the blinding smoke by Exume Fritzberg, 66, who was at the Flatbush Medical Heights Services at 1681 Flatbush Ave. to inquire about services, but instead was pulling the woman out of the quickly spreading fire.

“I see the smoke and then I tried to put it out, but I couldn’t,” said the tearful Bonny as she stood inside a nearby deli as firefighters battled the fire.

Martene Bonny, a medical aide, is helped away by Exume Fritzberg during the fire.

Firefighter removes window to vent a burning apartment.

Firefighters cut through steel door to access basement

Command station set up for two alarm fire.

Martene Bonny, a medical aide, cries after barely getting out of burning medical clinic.

Firefighters battle two-alarm fire in a medical clinic on Flatbush Avenue.

Firefighters works on roof to get at any additional fire.

Fritzberg said the medical aide was trying to put the fire out as he stood in the waiting room.

“I told her we gotta get out of here and call the fire department,” Fritzberg said. “There was nothing she could do any more.”

The fire quickly rose to a second alarm because the fire began to spread to apartments on the upper two floors. Steel doors on the basement had to be cut to access the basement to get at spreading flames.

The fire was declared under control at 3:10 p.m., but by then, the clinic was destroyed and apartments above heavily damaged.

Fire officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.