police and fire – ReportWire

Brooklyn firefighters battle three-alarm apartment blaze in extreme cold

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Firefighters battled a three alarm fire at 464 Clinton Avenue.

Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

FDNY members fought a three-alarm fire in Brooklyn on Saturday, facing brutal winter conditions as the city was under a Code Blue alert, with frigid temperatures and dangerous wind chill complicating the firefighting efforts.

The blaze broke out at 464 Clinton Ave. in Fort Greene, shortly after 9 p.m. on Feb. 7. Engine Company 219 and Ladder Company 105 responded to reports of an odor of smoke inside a residential building. Upon arrival, they quickly discovered fire in a third-floor apartment and a fourth-floor apartment. Conditions quickly worsened as flames extended upward through the building.

As the blaze grew stronger, Battalion 57 transmitted a second alarm. Fire officials reported that the blaze was running vertically from the third floor through the sixth floor and into the cockloft–the concealed space between the top floor ceiling and the roof–raising concerns about rapid fire spread and structural damage.

smoke coming out of a building — Brooklyn firefighters battled a three-alarm fire in Fort Greene on Feb. 7, 2026.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

There were no reported injuries or deaths at press time.

Meanwhile, FDNY members were contending with multiple snow-covered and frozen hydrants while operating in freezing temperatures and forceful winds. Crews quickly worked to secure water sources as ice buildup slowed access, forcing firefighters to clear hydrants while maintaining suppression efforts.

Division 11 transmitted a third-alarm to keep units fresh. More than 170 members responded to the scene and used four hoselines to stop the spread of the fire.

fire hydrant in snow — Firefighters battled a three-alarm fire at 464 Clinton Ave.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

The fire was placed under control at 10:30 p.m. The FDNY Fire Marshal’s office will determine the cause of the fire.

The incident underscores the challenges first responders face during extreme weather and Code Blue alerts, when life-threatening temperatures and frozen infrastructure place added strain on emergency services and residents throughout the city.

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Lloyd Mitchell

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February 8, 2026

Five-alarm tears through Bronx deli and building: FDNY

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Firefighters battled a five alarm fire at 1365 Finlay Ave. in West Bronx on Monday, Jan. 5, 2025.

Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

A five-alarm fire tore through a Bronx deli, ripping through five floors above, early Monday morning, FDNY officials and Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

The fire department said the inferno erupted at 1365 Findlay Ave. in Claremont Village, just before 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 5.

After receiving a call about the blaze at around 3:18 a.m., firefighters arrived to find heavy fire emanating from the street-level deli. It quickly spread to the second floor, prompting Battalion 17 to call for a second alarm, officials said.

firefighters prepare hoses to fight a fire at night — Firefighters battled a five-alarm fire at 1365 Finlay Ave. in West Bronx on Monday, Jan. 5, 2025.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

In a flash, the fire spread to the third and subsequent floors; about 270 firefighters and paramedics were at the scene.

Firefighters left the building and made an exterior attack. They then returned to fight the blaze, using multiple hoses to extinguish the main body of the fire.

The devastating fire left one FDNY member and a civilian with minor injuries; EMS brought them to an area hospital for evaluation. Dozens of people were displaced.

“Thanks to the over 250 first responders who rushed to the scene, the building was evacuated without loss of life,” Mamdani said on X (formerly Twitter). “I am grateful to FDNY and all our first responders for their quick response that saved lives and for supporting displaced residents.”

The fire marked the first multiple-alarm fire in NYC for 2026. It came just weeks after another five-alarm blaze in the Bronx that left one person with minor injuries on Dec. 18.

People looking at the effects of a devastating fire. — A group gathers to look at the aftermath of the devastating fire.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

Kimberly Gonzalez-Ferreira, a resident of the building, was left with shock and sadness.

“This is an absolutely tragic way to start the new year with everyone looking up at new goals in life,” she said.

Billy Gomez, another resident, had just moved to NYC when the fire struck.

“I was looking forward to a fresh start in the new year. I just moved here from Rhode Island,” he said. “Now I have nothing.”

The fire was brought under control at around 7:12 a.m. The cause of the blaze is unknown; fire marshals will continue to investigate.

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By Lloyd Mitchell and Barbara Russo-Lennon

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January 5, 2026

Brute clocks straphanger with rain gear on Brooklyn train, cops say

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Suspect who allegedly hit a man with an umbrella.

Photo by NYPD

Police in Brooklyn are searching for a suspect who allegedly menaced a man with a box cutter before striking him with an umbrella on board a subway train last month.

According to law enforcement sources, the incident unfolded on Oct. 13 at around 2:15 a.m. on a southbound S train at the Euclid Avenue Subway station in East New York.

The 36-year-old victim was on the train when he was approached by the precipitation-prepared perp, who was wearing a hood and carried an umbrella. The duo, unknown to each other, began arguing when suddenly the suspect pulled out a box cutter and waved it around.

When the train doors opened, the dispute spilled over unto the station platform and became physical when the suspect showered the victim with a strike, using an umbrella, authorities said.

The suspect then immediately fled the scene by getting back on the train, fleeing to parts unknown.

Officers from the 75th Precinct and Transit District 33 responded to the scene after getting a 911 call about the incident, but the perp was already gone.

The victim refused medical attention at the scene, according to police sources.

Meanwhile, the NYPD on Nov. 12 released surveillance photos and video of the suspect, who remains at large. He is described as having a dark complexion and being approximately 25 to 35 years old. He is about five feet, 11 inches tall, and has a medium build and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray long-sleeved sweater, black jacket, and black sneakers.

No arrests have been made, but the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.

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Barbara Russo-Lennon

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November 12, 2025

Police pursuit ends with pedestrian hit, suspect arrested in Brooklyn

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Police chased a stolen car in Brooklyn on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025.

Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

A pedestrian was struck during a Brooklyn police pursuit on Sunday morning in which officers were attempting to stop an alleged teenage car thief.

According to law enforcement sources, officers in the 75th Precinct responded to a call about a stolen vehicle at Pennsylvania and Hegeman Avenues in East New York at around 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 14. Police said the alleged perp, a 15-year-old boy, was identified by the victim at the scene.

Officers then sprang into action when the young suspect immediately fled in the vehicle, going only a short distance around a corner, authorities said. With cops tailing him, the perp had to aggressively navigate traffic. A 71-year-old man standing at the southwest corner of the intersection was struck in the process.

The suspect then fled the vehicle, instigating a foot chase, and was apprehended just moments later.

Meanwhile, the condition of the pedestrian is not yet known, according to sources.

smashed up car in Brooklyn — Police set up tape around a crash site in Brooklyn.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene as a street pole came crashing down into the busy intersection following the chase. At one point, the victim was seen trapped underneath the stolen vehicle.

“Just another average wild morning in East New York,” Phillip Rogers said. “I heard a cracking noise and saw the pole come down.”

Catherine Garcia said she was praying for the victim.

“The paramedics, firefighters and cops were working hard to get him out of that situation,” she said.

Police could not yet confirm what kind of vehicle was stolen or whether the pedestrian was hit by the stolen vehicle or the collapsed street pole.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding the incident can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.

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By Barbara Russo-Lennon and Lloyd Mitchell

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September 14, 2025

E-bike rider fatally slams into open car door in Queens, as e-bike collisions increase citywide

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Lefferts Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue.

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An e-bike rider was killed after recently slamming into an open car door on a Queens street, police announced Saturday.

According to law enforcement sources, officers from the 102nd Precinct responded to a collision near Lefferts Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill at around 8:25 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 25. An initial investigation determined that a 32-year-old man from Queens, named “Vikas,” was riding an e-bike southbound on Lefferts Boulevard when he collided with an open car door.

Police determined that a 46-year-old man, sitting in a 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC, opened the driver’s side door that Vikas slammed into. Upon the horrific impact, the cyclist was thrown off the device and forcefully landed on the roadway, sustaining a head injury.

EMS immediately responded and rushed the victim to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Meanwhile, the man in the Mercedes-Benz remained at the scene.

No charges have been filed against the driver so far, but the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad is continuing its inquiry.

Police reported that e-bike collisions citywide have been increasing this year.

According to the latest traffic statistics from the NYPD, e-bike collisions throughout the boroughs are up over 30% year to date, with 540 incidents this year, compared to 414 during the same period in 2024.

The NYPD statistics reflect a significant increase since July 23, when amNewYork reported that e-bike collisions citywide are up a whopping 21.5% year to date, with 401 crashes compared to 330 during the same period last year, per the traffic data.

Meanwhile, the latest NYPD data also shows that overall collisions involving motorized two-wheeled devices (including mopeds and e-bikes) are down over 13% year to date this year compared to the same period in 2024.

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Barbara Russo-Lennon

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September 7, 2025

ICE in Courts: Hochul condemns ICE detention of mother and 7-year-old daughter from Federal Plaza

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People protest ICE at 26 Federal Plaza.

Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday issued a strong statement condemning the detention of a 7-year-old child and her mother by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials last week, calling the move “cruel and unjust.”

“I have been clear. Whether under President Biden or Donald Trump, I will work with the federal government to secure our borders and deport violent criminals who pose a real threat. But ripping a mother from her children and detaining her 7-year-old daughter is cruel and unjust,” the governor said.

Hochul’s remarks come after ICE agents arrested a student from P.S. 89 in Queens along with her mother and 19-year-old brother while they attended a required court hearing at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan. It is currently the first known instance of a child this young being taken into custody for reasons pertaining to illegal immigration.

Details about the detention remain scarce, but according to reports, the child and her mother were transferred together to a holding facility in Texas. The woman’s adult son is being held in New Jersey. Reports also say the family comes from Ecuador and came to the United States, escaping domestic violence.

“Instead of preparing her daughter for school, this mother and her daughter have been separated from their family and sent to a facility in Texas,” Hochul said. “My administration has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security, demanding their immediate return to New York.”

The governor called DHS and said she is demanding the family be “immediately” returned to New York. She further urged the DHS to permit elected representatives the opportunity to inspect holding areas where immigrants are being detained; members of Congress have repeatedly been denied entry to locations at Federal Plaza and the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Hochul’s team told amNewYork that conversations with ICE “are ongoing.”

amNewYork contacted DHS for comment on how the conversation went and the conditions of the detentions and is awaiting a response.

Meanwhile, other elected officials have echoed the governor’s sentiments, calling for greater transparency from ICE and a reevaluation of their detention practices, particularly concerning families and minors.

“We are in contact with the local school, Department of Education officials, and federal offices to learn more and fight to make sure the family can be reunited. Family separation is horrific, and ICE must stop these cruel tactics,” Queens City7 Council Member Shekar Krishnan said on X on Aug. 16.

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Barbara Russo-Lennon

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August 18, 2025