Blocked hydrants hinder FDNY response at fatal Bay Ridge fire

February 11, 2025 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

FDNY truck. Eagle file photo

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BROOKLYN — A SUNDAY MORNING FIRE at a Bay Ridge apartment building left a 37-year-old man dead and a woman and toddler critically injured, reports the New York Daily News. According to FDNY officials, two SUVs illegally parked in front of nearby fire hydrants delayed efforts to contain the blaze.

The flames erupted from the third floor of the four-story building on 80th Street. Firefighters arrived at around 3:35 a.m., and although the fire was controlled within an hour, the victim could not be saved. Other neighbors were warned in time to evacuate. FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker urged New Yorkers to avoid blocking hydrants, lamenting that obstructions can cost crucial seconds in emergencies; the department shared images of the obstructing SUVs on Instagram as an example.

“This is a fatal fire and there’s no doubt that the cars that were parked on the hydrants have slowed down our members from engaging in firefighting tactics,” Tucker said.

The fire remains under investigation.

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