First Ave Fire Leaves 14 Hurt, Schools Closed In East Village

EAST VILLAGE, NY — Fourteen were injured when a six-alarm fire erupted in the East Village early Wednesday morning, officials said.

More than 200 firefighters from 50 units battled the flames in what the FDNY described as a "stubborn" blaze that broke out just after 1:45 a.m. at a five-story building on First Avenue between E. 11th and 12th streets.

Eleven firefighters and three civilians suffered minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Officials fear parts of the building may collapse and have pulled firefighters from the structure.

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Authorities are allowing the fire to partially burn itself out while "flooding" the back of the building with water.

“This is going to be a prolonged operation. We cannot hit the scene of the fire due to structural concerns and the collapse hazard," said FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard at a Wednesday news briefing.

“The construction is very old, the wood is thicker and better than it is today and we just can’t penetrate the roof."

A cause for the fast-moving fire has yet to be determined, but authorities believe the the flames started in the ground floor where a Japanese restaurant is located, Leonard said.

The Department of Education shuttered a nearby high school and redirected students of an elementary school to prevent pupils from inhaling smoking.

East Side Community High School is closed for the day and students at P.S. 19 were redirected and will be dismissed from the Children's Workshop School, officials said.

For more information parents can call the Department of Education's emergency center at 718-935-3210.

Fire officials are advising locals to close their windows to prevent smoke inhalation.

Inspectors and engineers with the city's Department of Buildings are on standby waiting to conduct a structural integrity inspection of the building, according to a spokesman with the department.

First Avenue between E. 10th and 13th streets is closed to pedestrians and E. 7th to 14th streets between Avenue A and Second Avenue are closed to cars. The NYPD temporarily opened a lane of traffic on First Avenue, but had to shutter the road again when the fire flared up this afternoon.

Roughly 16 tenants in 8 apartments were impacted.

This is a developing story. Check this page for updates.

Lead photo courtesy of JK Clarke, additional photos courtesy of FDNY