Fire officials Monday afternoon were looking into the cause of a five-alarm fire at a recently-opened gym in Boerum Hill that reportedly left 12 people, nine of them firefighters, injured.
The fire broke out around 10:30 a.m. in a two-story building at 96 Boerum Place (some reports gave the address as 98 Boerum Place), according to the FDNY. It started out on the second floor of the UFC Fit Cobble Hill gym, which opened on Jan. 15, according to the gym’s Instagram account. The location was formerly a New York Sports Club.
After it was reported, the blaze quickly went to two, three, four and then five alarms. More than 200 firefighters were reported on the scene.
FDNY Acting Chief of Department John Hodgens, in a video made public by the Fire Department, said the fire was started on the second floor and spread to the space between the roof and the top floor.
A street view of Monday’s fire in Boerum Hill. More than 200 firefighters reported to the scene. Photo courtesy of FDNY
“The roof was some kind of tennis court that had foam insulation,” Hodgens said. “Once that starts burning, it’s hard to extinguish.
“One difficulty we had is that we lost water pressure early on. We had the Department of Environmental Protection come and boost the water pressure. Once we got that going, we were able to get it under control.”
The building is described as mixed-use, and although the fire was mainly confined to the roof, firefighters had to evacuate the apartments to fight the blaze. “They won’t be able to get in [soon]. We’ll have to work with them and get the Red Cross for [emergency] housing,” Hodgens said.
According to Councilmember Lincoln Restler, the American Red Cross, the DEP, National Grid and Con Edison were on site. Portions of Boerum Place and Atlantic Avenue were closed.
“Thank you to the brave officers of the NYFD for responding to this terrible fire. My prayers are for a speedy recovery for all who were injured. My office is working to assist those affected,” tweeted U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez.
SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
