Child Caused House Fire in UCSB Chabad House

GOLETA, CA — Fire investigators interviewed occupants and examined evidence before determining there was no malicious intent in connection with the blaze at UC Santa Barbara’s Chabad House, County Fire Capt. Eli Iskow said.

Suspicious Fire rips through a Jewish Home on Crown Street

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — A fast moving fire tore through the basement of a Jewish home on Crown Street this afternoon and filled the entire house with thick smoke. The incident took place inside of 309 Crown Street across from Beis Rivkah High School at around 12:00pm.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Manholes Explode Around Crown Heights

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — A series of manhole explosions shook the vicinity of Eastern Parkway and Brooklyn Avenue and disrupting electricity and internet service. The explosions took place at around 3:30pm, filling the area with thick gray smoke, bringing residents out of their houses.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Apartment Fire in a Large Residential Building

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — At around 7:00pm Tuesday evening a fire broke out inside one of the apartments on the 5th floor of 763 Eastern Parkway, a six story semi-fireproof building which houses over 130 residential units and spans from Eastern Parkway all the way back to Lincoln Place.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Fire Displaces Family of Eight and Others

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — A fire tore through a number of apartments on Shabbos afternoon. The incident took place inside of 617 Crown Street, which is between Troy and Albany, an apartment building with 46 residential units occupied by both Jewish and non-Jewish residents.

Early Morning Fire Evacuates Building

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — A fire destroyed two apartments and damaged others this morning forcing the evacuation of all its occupants. The fire broke out in the basement of 1625 President Street, an apartment building with 44 residential units located at the corner of Schenectady Avenue, and quickly extended into two apartments on the first floor, the fire broke out at around 6:45am.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Car Fire in the Back Yard of a Home

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] – Thick smoke and the acrid smell of burning plastic and rubber filled Crown Street between New York and Nostrand Avenue at around 6:45pm. Firefighters responded to the rear of 309 Crown Street, the home of a Jewish family, where an abandoned car was ablaze.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Fire Causes Loud Explosions, 35 Foot Flames

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Residents in the vicinity of Clove Road and Malbone Street were startled and scared when a series of explosions began going off at around 3:00pm today. Some thought it was gun shots, while others were so scared when the walls of their homes began shaking, they called 911.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Fire in a Building on Empire Blvd

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — A fire broke out earlier today at around 3:00pm in the upper floors of 740 Empire Boulevard, which is on the corner of Troy Avenue, a large building with 96 residential units. 911 received many calls from panicking residents who made their way to the roof to escape the heat and smoke.

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Boiler Trouble Scares Residents

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — At around 12:00am last night a column of smoke was seen rising from the roof of 679 Montgomery Street, the large building on the corner of Kingston Avenue. People called 911 thinking that there was a fire in the building, which B”H turned out not to be the case.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Electrical Fire Causes Alarm on Motzoai Shabbos

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] – A short hour after Shabbos the residents in a home on Balfore Place called 911 after strong stench of gas filled the house. Firefighters responded and began investigating the odor.

After nearly a half an hour they managed to trace the odor to an electrical malfunction in the boiler of the house.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Cold Matzah Ovens Cause Alarm

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — After turning on the ovens this Motzoai Shabbos in the Matzah Bakery on Albany Avenue the block filled with thick smoke and the strong stench of fire.

FDNY was called and responded but after meeting the owner it quickly became clear that the smoke was due to the oven being cold and there was no need for any activity on the firefighter’s behalf.

Firefighter Dies Battling a High-rise Blaze

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Tragedy befell FDNY’s Engine Company 249, when a member of their company, Lt. John H. Martinson, an 18 year veteran collapsed while climbing the stairs to the 14th floor of the Ebbets Field housing complex where a fire was raging in apartment there.

Members of Engine Co. 249 were responding to the calls of a woman trapped along with her children on the balcony of her apartment. Lt. Martinson collapsed on the 13th floor after suffering a heart attack while climbing the stairs.

More pictures in the Extended Article.