Huge Fire Rips Through Prospect-Lefferts Gardens Pasta Cookery

Screenshots via @NYScanner/Twitter

PROSPECT LEFFERTS-GARDENS, BROOKLN — A five-alarm fire in the New York Pasta Authority headquarters at 640 Parkside Ave., between Rogers and Nostrand avenues, burned for more than five hours late Sunday night and Monday morning, according to the Fire Department of New York (FDNY).

The fire, which began at around 10:45 p.m. and came under control around 4 a.m., injured one of nearly 200 firefighters on scene, the FDNY said. The wounded firefighter was transported to nearby Kings County Hospital with minor injuries.

Around 12:30 a.m., just after the fire's third alarm, New York City officials issued a smoke warning to nearby residents.

Crews were still "battling hot spots" as the sun came up Monday, an FDNY spokesman told Patch.

The fire started on the building's first floor, the spokesman said, and eventually made its way up to the "cockloft" and roof area.

Witness photos and videos showed flames shooting from the top of the warehouse, lighting up billows of smoke that could be seen from miles away.

The warehouse at 640 Parkside serves as headquarters for the New York Pasta Authority, a kosher pasta manufacturer that sells bags of pre-made pasta in stores and online.

NBC New York reported that Monday night's fire at the company warehouse was "possibly fueled by large cooking oil containers inside."

Via NBC: "Although firefighters managed to save a church next door, the supply warehouse was burned so badly that it’s in danger of collapsing, according to fire officials."

However, an FDNY spokesman told Patch that as of early Monday, the smoldering structure at 640 Parkside did not pose any "imminent danger" to Prospect-Lefferts Gardens residents.