Brooklyn, NY – A massive warehouse fire erupted Wednesday afternoon at 700 Columbia Street in Brooklyn, prompting a four-alarm response from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and bringing more than 200 firefighters and EMS personnel to the scene.
The blaze broke out just after 12:30 p.m., quickly spreading through multiple bays of the industrial building. Heavy smoke and flames could be seen billowing from the structure as crews battled the fire under challenging wind conditions.
“Upon arrival we had a heavy fire condition in this warehouse, with fire initially coming out of three bays,” said Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods. “Our engine companies moved in very aggressively, very deliberately, and prevented further extension within this building. The weather was definitely a factor. The wind was carrying the embers throughout this building and catching fire in multiple other bays. We had about eight to ten bays involved with fire.”
Despite the size of the blaze, no injuries were reported among firefighters or civilians. FDNY officials credited quick coordination between fire units for containing the flames before they could spread to nearby structures.
The fire was officially placed under control just after 3 p.m., roughly two and a half hours after the first alarm. Firefighters remained on scene into the evening to douse hot spots and assess structural safety.
FDNY Fire Marshals are investigating the cause of the fire and have not yet released details regarding the building’s use or whether anyone was inside at the time. The warehouse sustained extensive damage, and nearby businesses reported temporary power disruptions due to emergency response operations.
Local residents in the Red Hook area described heavy smoke drifting across the waterfront district but said air conditions improved by late afternoon.
Key Points: Brooklyn warehouse fire draws more than 200 firefighters – Brooklyn
- A four-alarm fire broke out at 700 Columbia Street Wednesday afternoon, sending more than 200 FDNY members to the scene.
- Winds helped spread the fire through multiple bays of the warehouse, but no injuries were reported.
- The blaze was placed under control by 3 p.m. as Fire Marshals began investigating the cause.