Update: Firefighters Battle 4-Alarm Blaze On East Houston Roof

The Fire Department is fighting a 3-alarm fire that started just after 5:30 p.m. on the roof of a building at Houston Street and Avenue A. The fire enveloped the entire roof; there is scaffolding on the exterior, and MyFoxNY suggested that the renovation/construction work could have been the culprit.

Here's live video; it appears that the Fire Department has it mostly knocked down (it's not officially under control yet). However, Houston Street is closed between First Avenue and Avenue B.

Update: The fire was at 240 East Houston Street. A few weeks ago, this complaint was filed with the Department of Buildings: "SCAFFOLDING IS BEING INSTALLED ON THE SIDEWALK, THEY HAVE INSTALLED FOUR OF THE SUPPORTS ON THE PROPERTY OF 244 E HOUSTON WITHOUTPERMISSION AND THERE ARE NO PERMITS/PLANS POSTED FOR THE CONSTCTN"

Update: The fire was upgraded to a 4th alarm, because while the main fire was knocked down, there firefighters are still searching for pockets of fire.

Update: The Office of Emergency Management says, "The following street closures are in effect due to the 4 Alarm Fire. E. Houston St. is closed from Christie St. to Norfolk St. Essex St. is closed from Delancy St. to 2nd Ave. The M9, M14 and M21 Buses are being rerouted."

Update: Here's video of the fire from reader Peter:

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By Jen Chung in News on July 8, 2010 5:52 PM

Comments [rss]

Guywell

The guy that lived in this apartment is a real dick. Glad he wasn't hurt in the fire but certainly could care less that his apartment was destroyed. Karma is a bitch, isn't it buddy?

RoboticInsides

This messed up everyone's evening subway rides, if I'm not wrong. And it almost forced our kickball team to forfeit our last game.

kc2slg

No one was hurt, everyone had a place to go, and as far as I saw all pets were retrieved. For a very bad fire, not so bad.

bradhogeh

Oh ! my Good,,,it is really so incident.I have heard this news.There are many people died in this incident.I'll prayer to god for these died person and their family.

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feelandtriple

my husband caught most of it on video from when it was a thin pillar of smoke to after most of it was put out. 5 videos (still in process of uploading the last couple): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIIVB6hKPU8

YouWillLearn

It is NOT on Houston, it's on A at 2nd Street.

jaycjay

That's my favorite comment of the week, especially given your username.

NannyState

That's a cursory +1

YouWillLearn

DELETE MY COMMENT YOU ANIMALS!

dignam

The roof! The roof! The roof is on fire! (Hm, maybe we need some water or that motherf@%k'll burn.)

JGNY

The way that just the roof is on fire and not the building makes me think it was the roofing material that combusted. I bet we will find out it was installed today. Most roof systems are are a rubberized system applied with a hot tar.