More than 100 firefighters battled a blaze in near sub-zero temperatures in a toy and medical supply company building in Queens Monday.
The blaze on 14th Ave. near 128th St. in College Point broke out about 7:40 a.m., sending the strong odor of burning plastic into the air. Firefighters were still working on putting it out four hours later.
Medics rushed a 40-year-old worker at B&B Systems to the burn center at Jacobi Hospital in serious but stable condition. He was found on the first floor toward the rear of the building.
Assistant FDNY Chief Tom Richardson said the fire broke out in the basement and rapidly spread to the first floor.
“We had a collapse of one of the side walls and the roof of the structure. That’s causing us some operational challenges as far as getting to the real seat of the fire for final extinguishment,” Richardson said.
The first arriving units encountered exploded oxygen cylinders that were being stored in the building.
“The incident commander quickly backed out all the firefighters from inside of the building and we transitioned to an exterior tactic,” Richardson said.
The plastic odor in the air was probably from burning dolls, Richardson said.
The owner of the supply company sat in a black Cadillac with another man about a block away from the fire.
”That was one of our workers,” he said of the injured man. “We don’t know if he’s okay. Now is not a good time to talk, I’m sorry.”
In all 150 firefighters and medics rushed to the fire. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries. An MTA bus and two EMS buses were sent to the scene for the emergency personnel to stay warm.
“As always in the cold weather, we’re mindful of the operational challenges due to the freezing and slipping hazards and getting hose lines in position,” Richardson said. “But we were able to overcome those situations so far.”
He said the biggest challenges were the cold temperature, the wind and the amount of fire on arrival.
Buildings Department inspectors were on their way to the scene.
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