FDNY firefighters reached four people through a blocked stairway.
QUEENS, N.Y. — A family of four was rescued after rapidly rising floodwaters trapped them inside the basement of a Queens home Saturday, forcing FDNY firefighters to break through multiple barriers as water continued rushing into the residence.
The rescue unfolded at about 12:30 p.m. when Engine 292 responded to a home at 47-04 69th St. for reports of people trapped in a flooded basement.
When firefighters arrived, they found waist-high water pouring into the basement. The family was trapped behind a doorway that could not be opened because of the force of the water and debris, according to the FDNY.
As conditions deteriorated, firefighters split into two teams. One crew attempted to reach the occupants through the blocked basement entrance while another searched for an alternate route into the home.
The second team entered the home’s upper level and located a door leading to an interior stairway. After finding the passage blocked by construction, firefighters forced their way through the obstruction and then breached another door to reach the trapped family.
Firefighters escorted the four occupants to the backyard, where members of Ladder 136 helped them safely over a fence using a portable ladder.
All four family members were rescued without injury, the FDNY said.
Key Points
- A family of four was rescued from a flooded basement in Queens on Saturday.
- Firefighters forced their way through blocked doors and an obstructed stairway to reach the trapped occupants.
- All four people were rescued safely, and no injuries were reported.
