Category: fire

Support grows for Astoria families who lost homes in four-alarm Easter fire

FDNY crews work to contain a massive Easter Sunday fire at 21-33 31st Ave. in Astoria. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Apr. 22, 2025 By sobrien April 22, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Several online fundraisers have raised more than $90,000 for Astoria residents displaced by a four-alarm fire that ripped through two buildings on 31st Avenue on Easter Sunday. The blaze ignited inside a three-story mixed-use building at 21-33 31st Ave. shortly before 9:30 a.m.…

Astoria rallies to save 90-year-old shoe repair shop after devastating fire

Hong's Shoe Repair suffered extensive damage in a blaze last Thursday. Photo Manuel Nunez

Feb. 17, 2025 By sobrien Feb. 17, 2025 By Shane O’Brien  Astoria residents have rallied to save a local shoe repair store that has served the neighborhood for over 90 years after the store suffered extensive damage during a fire last Thursday. Hong’s Shoe Repair, located at 22-60 31st St., suffered severe damage during the… Read more »

Lithium-ion battery caused barge blaze on Newtown Creek in Long Island City: FDNY

Aug. 30, 2024 By bparry Aug. 30, 2024 By Bill Parry The massive barge blaze that raged for hours on Newtown Creek in the Blissville section of Long Island City Tuesday night was sparked by an exploding lithium-ion battery that was among the scrap metal onboard the vessel, new FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker confirmed Thursday. During… Read more »

BP secures new temporary housing agreements for Sunnyside families displaced by 5-alarm fire in December

July 2, 2024 By Bill Parry A breakthrough was reached just days after tenants of a Sunnyside apartment complex filed a lawsuit against their building’s landlord stemming from their displacement following a 5-alarm fire in December. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and A&E Real Estate, the landlord, announced a plan Monday to provide 22 tenants… Read more »

Sunnyside stands with neighbors displaced by 5-alarm inferno last year as they face further evictions by landlord

June 11, 2024 By Bill Parry Council Member Julie Won and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez on Saturday rallied with their constituents, who were displaced by a massive five-alarm fire at their Sunnyside apartment complex just days before Christmas, to call on A&E Real Estate Holdings to extend tenants’ temporary leases. Families and individuals from at least… Read more »

More than 175 victims of massive five-alarm fire in Sunnyside retain Manhattan-based law firm to represent them

Feb. 6, 2024 By Bill Parry More than 175 tenants who were displaced from their Sunnyside apartment building following a massive five-alarm fire just days before Christmas are being represented by attorneys from the law firm of McLaughlin & Stern LLP. The Manhattan-based law firm, established in 1898, will represent the more than 175 victims… Read more »