Four firefighters suffered minor injuries and multiple families have been displaced after a fire broke out inside an auto mechanic shop that quickly spread to a pair of two-family homes in Van Nest on Saturday, Nov. 8. Meanwhile, tributes have been paid to a firefighter who died in a separate fire in Brooklyn the same day.

 

An FDNY spokesperson told Norwood News that the fire broke out inside of the one-story garage that housed General Mechanic / Gabaon Body Shop, located at 1740 East Tremont Avenue, at 11:23 a.m. on Saturday.

The spokesperson said that upon arrival at the scene, firefighters observed “heavy fire throughout” the building.

 

He said the fire from the rear of the building also extended to two homes located at 1530 and 1532 Rosedale Avenue and added that four firefighters were transported to area hospitals with minor injuries. They said the roof of the autobody shop collapsed.

The spokesperson went on to say that the department used 200 fire and EMS members who made up 44 fire and EMS units to battle the blaze and assist those who needed help.

 

They said the fire was brought under control at 2:28 p.m. [broadly meaning it is contained and will will not spread further.] According to separate TV news footage of the scene, firefighters were still hosing water onto the buildings as darkness fell on Saturday.

Norwood News reached out to the Red Cross of Greater New York for details of the number of displaced residents. Chi Kong Lui, digital media producer with the Red Cross said the organization had helped 5 families (8 adults and 11 children) with emergency lodging and financial aid after the fire.

 

“Any residents impacted by this fire who need help with their recovery and have not yet connected with the Red Cross should call 1-877-RED CROSS (877-733-2767) and select Option 1,” Kong Lui said.

The FDNY said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

 

We also asked the FDNY about an unused fire hydrant seen at Van Nest Avenue and East 180th Street and a larger-than-normal hose line that was seen at the scene that stretched across East 180th Street from Morris Park Avenue to East Tremont.

The hose blocked off traffic along the busy street and traffic was also blocked off on the other side of East Tremont at Commonwealth Avenue for fire trucks and ambulances.

 

The blaze was the second major fire to hit the block in seven years, as firefighters battled a 7-alarm blaze that broke out inside a furniture
store on the ground floor of a 4-story apartment building next door at 1750 East Tremont Avenue on Jan. 2, 2018.

 

In that fire, 22 residents and one firefighter were injured, and the building was destroyed. It took the owner several years to rebuild, the furniture shop returned, and the apartments above were reoccupied.

Norwood News asked a fire official at the FDNY if a cause had been determined for the 2018 fire. He committed to getting back to us with that information and we will share it upon receipt of same.

 

Separately, on Sunday, Nov. 9, the FDNY held a bunting ceremony outside Ladder 120 in Brooklyn for Firefighter Patrick Brady, who died on Saturday, Nov. 8, while responding to an “all hands” fire in Brooklyn.

 

“We will never forget him and his service to the City of New York,” an FDNY spokesperson said. He was 42, according to a report from the New York Daily News. Seven firefighters were recently injured in a Longwood fire on Nov. 5, as reported.

 

FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker announced the line of duty death of Brady, who he said “served our great Department for 11 years.”
He added, “On Saturday, November 8th, Firefighter Brady was operating on the roof of a fire at 9407 Kings Highway in Brooklyn when he went into cardiac arrest. FDNY Firefighters and EMS quickly moved to treat Brady. He was taken to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center where he passed away.”

 

He continued, “Firefighter Brady was appointed to the FDNY on July 14, 2014. After graduating from the Fire Academy, he was assigned to Engine 227 in Brooklyn, before transferring to Ladder 120 in 2022. Firefighter Brady is the 1,163rd member of the FDNY to die in the line-of-duty. The last member of the Department to die in the line of duty was Paramedic Salih Abdur Rahman. Funeral arrangements are pending.”

In March, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and others had highlighted the need for greater mental health services for the FDNY, as reported.

 

Click here to read FDNY’s fire safety tips. “During a fire, always close the door behind you!” fire officials say. “It helps contain smoke and flames, giving you precious time to escape.”

 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.