A large fire tore through a Brooklyn warehouse on Wednesday afternoon, sending a towering column of thick black smoke over the borough as crews rushed to bring the flames under control. The blaze lit up the evening sky and drew a heavy emergency response as firefighters worked to keep it from spreading.
The fire broke out at a three-story commercial building at 485 Scott Avenue, between Thomas and Cherry streets in the Greenpoint area of Brooklyn. The site sits near Newtown Creek, in the shadow of the Kosciuszko Bridge, an industrial stretch on the edge of the borough.
According to the FDNY, the flames broke out in the back of the warehouse at around 3:45 in the afternoon. The fire quickly grew, pushing out the dense, dark smoke that could be seen from a distance across the surrounding neighborhoods.
The response was substantial. The fire department said at least 140 fire and EMS personnel were on the scene, mounting a large-scale effort against the blaze at the sprawling structure.
The building's use came into focus as crews battled the fire. Employees from WM Waste Management at the scene told reporters that the warehouse belonged to the company, identifying it as one of their facilities.
On the question of injuries, the early word was reassuring but not entirely clear. The FDNY said there were no reported injuries, though moments before one live report, a firefighter was seen being taken away on a stretcher, and officials were expected to provide more details at a briefing.
The heavy smoke prompted a warning for people living nearby. Notify NYC advised residents in the area to keep their windows closed and to expect traffic delays around the scene while the emergency response was underway.
As the evening wore on, crews remained at the warehouse working to fully extinguish the fire. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known, and fire officials were expected to release more information once the flames were knocked down and the scene was secured.