[Updating] Report of injuries during major fire at 188 1st Ave.

[Photo via @academyrecords]

More than 200 firefighters have been battling a major overnight fire at 188 First Ave., a five-story building between 11th Street and 12th Street...[See below for updates — the fire is in the building's setback]


[Photo by Doug Singer]



First Avenue has been closed at Ninth Street for the FDNY equipment.

We'll continue to update as more information becomes available...

Update 1

Four firefighters and two residents were hurt in the five-alarm fire, ABC 7 reports. All of the injuries are said to be minor.

Per ABC:

The fire broke out on the first floor of a five-story apartment building on 1st Avenue just before 2 a.m.

Fire spread through the building quickly.

Update 2

NBC 4 states nine injuries, including seven firefighters — one of who was seriously injured.

No immediate cause for the fire, officials say.

--

The ground floor is occupied by Uogashi, the Japanese restaurant.

Update 3

The FDNY is calling this a 6-alarm fire now...

MAN 6-ALARM 188 1ST AVE, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE IN 1ST FLR SETBACK,

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) October 3, 2018

Update 4

JUST IN: The FDNY recommends the DOE to close two nearby schools as they continue to battle a 'stubborn' fire in the East Village that has been burning for hours https://t.co/GUlz9rIaQO pic.twitter.com/POqwF5iXHK

— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) October 3, 2018

Update 5 — 8 a.m.

The FDNY response is massive. Trucks stretch back to between Seventh Street and Sixth Street.

Here's an early morning photo via Lola Sáenz...



...and these are from the rear of the building taken from 12th Street via Steven...









... and from the front of the building...







Update 6

A view via KT...



Update 7 9 a.m.

More from ABC 7:

Flames spread to a small section of rear of the building, which partially collapsed and could safely not accessed by firefighters.

"Much of the roof on the first floor extension has burned away, but because of the collapse hazard we can't get in there. And that's the problem, why we can't put this fire out right now," Chief James Leonard, FDNY Chief of Department.

They poured water on the small section, waiting for the roof to collapse so they could fully extinguish it.

Until then, the smoldering section spewed heavy smoke that prompted firefighters to evacuate five adjacent buildings.

This aerial view shows the collapse in the structure behind the building... part of Uogashi?



The injured list is now reportedly at 14 — including 11 firefighters, mostly smoke for inhalation and heat exhaustion.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Red Cross is on the scene...

Update: @RedCross is located in a truck at below location. Ready to serve. https://t.co/5u7R2uzRNN

— Pedro Carrillo (@plazarillo) October 3, 2018

And no school here...

⚠️ Due to a 6-alarm fire nearby, two NYC Schools in Manhattan to close today, 10/3/2018: East Side Community High School and P.S. 19 Asher Levy. All students and staff are safe. There will be no classes, after school, or other activities at these schools today. [1/2]

— NYC Public Schools (@NYCSchools) October 3, 2018

Update 8

First Avenue will likely be closed for much of the day...

This will be a prolonged operation due to heavy construction and structural concerns of the building - #FDNY Chief of Department Leonard from the scene of the 6-alarm fire, 188 1 Ave. Manhattan

— FDNY (@FDNY) October 3, 2018

Update 9

EV FIRE UPDATE: Fire is contained at the rear of 188 1st Ave. @FDNY will be on standby indefinitely.

* Residents are safe, dozens of units evacuated
* No decision made for @NYCSchools tomorrow
* 14 people injured including firefighters

Next interagency meeting will be at 11am. pic.twitter.com/a2cHAOP8f6

— Carlina Rivera 利華娜 (@CarlinaRivera) October 3, 2018

Update 10 1:15 p.m.

#EastVillage Fire update.

One Northbound traffic lane has been opened for vehicular traffic.

The M15 bus @MTA will NOT make any stops for pickup or drop off from St. Marks Place to East 13 Street. It will then proceed as normal. pic.twitter.com/3eqVktLjK5

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) October 3, 2018

The FDNY issued an under control just before 1 p.m. ...

MAN 6-ALARM 188 1ST AVE, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE IN 1ST FLR SETBACK, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) October 3, 2018

More details about the fire that destroyed the Essex Card Shop

Photo by Stacie Joy

More details are emerging about the two-alarm fire that destroyed Essex Card Shop at 47 Avenue A on Jan. 10.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy first reported last Thursday that a 13-year-old boy had been charged with second-degree arson.

Julie Besonen filed a piece for the Times yesterday about the longtime business and its meaning to the community. (More on this in a moment.)

Besonen has details about the moments when the shop's management first smelled the smoke...

It was a typical Monday afternoon at the Essex Card Shop, an encyclopedic stationery store ... Business had been steady. Jayant Patel, the 80-year-old manager, had just noticed a teenager wandering around, before being hustled out by an older woman, perhaps his grandmother. Now the store was empty, the dutiful manager at his post, behind the counter.

Within minutes, however, Mr. Patel smelled smoke and saw flames in the back. He seized a broom and tried to snuff the fire out. It happened so fast that there was no chance to grab the fire extinguisher, he said. Soon, Muhammad Aslam, the shop's owner, arrived to find his loyal friend struggling alone to put out the fire. They called 911.

Meanwhile, Stacie received a copy of the Fire Incident Report, which listed the cause of the fire as "Incendiary — Combustible Material." Here's more from the report:

Examination showed fire originated in the subject premises, on the first floor, in the northwest section of the store, approximately eight feet from the north wall, approximately eight feet from the west wall, approximately three feet above finished floor level, in combustible material (stationery supplies), due to the introduction of an open flame (lighter). 

Fire extended throughout the northwest section of the store (floor, ceiling, walls and contents throughout). Fire further extended throughout the rest of the store (ceiling, walls and contents throughout). Fire further extended out the front store window to the exterior of the building and the store awning. Fire was thereto confined and extinguished.

The fire spared the neighboring businesses between Third Street and Fourth Street — Exit9 and Downtown Yarns.

As for Essex Card Shop, Aslam estimated the loss, including inventory, to be around $300,000, the Times reports, noting the "aisles and its basement were bulging with inventory."

To date, supporters of the business have helped it raise more than $70,000 in a GoFundMe campaign. 

Besonen has more about what the place meant to residents in the piece titled "Essex Card Shop Was Destroyed by a Fire. Its Customers Might Save It." (Disclosure: The article in the Times includes a quote from Stacie.)

Report: Stuy Town full of fire code violations

Here's a story that merits widespread coverage... The Stuyvesant Town Tenants Association's new survey finds fire code violations in all but four of the complex's 110 buildings. Tenants Association volunteers recently inspected the buildings to check on things like building maintenance and cleanliness and what they found were a whole lot of fire code violations. Cut to the report:

"The survey, conducted in late spring by Tenants Association volunteers, discovered instances in all but four buildings in which fire doors do not close properly, in violation of Fire Code requirements that fire doors be self-closing. The TA has brought the survey results to the attention of Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano and Sean Sullivan, General Manager of ST/PCV.

In addition to the findings on the doors, the TA’s volunteers noted buildings that were missing floor indicator signage in hallways, on stair doors, and in stairwells; standpipes that were locked and chained; piping passing through holes larger than the pipes themselves creating a path for fire and smoke to travel; and what are unsafe and non-code-compliant window safety panes, such as plastic, in the fire doors themselves."

A FDNY Fire Inspector described the failure of self-closing doors as “extremely dangerous, because it could fail to stop the spread of fire, and especially smoke, to other areas of the structure."

To make matters worse, they found evidence of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use in the stairwells as well as indications that people have been using stair landings to relieve themselves and their dogs.

Anyway, at least they have a snappy new cafe!

Read the full report from the Tenants Association here:
Over 580 Fire Doors Are Found Not To Close In Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village

Also:
Building study reveals fire code violations (Town & Village Blog)

Q-and-A with Penny Pollak, the fire-breathing East Village actress and writer

[Bobby Williams]

Last Wednesday, we posted photos that peter radley and Bobby Williams took of a woman breathing fire in Tompkins Square Park... turns out that this was Penny Pollak, the East Village-based (occasional fire-breathing) actress and writer who also hosts Penny's Open Mic Tuesday nights at Under St. Mark’s Theater.

We thought that this would be an opportune time to talk with Pollak, who also recently started a travelogue performance blog of sorts, about fire breathing. And other things.

How long have you been breathing fire (if that is the correct term for it)?
About 7 or 8 years ago a friend of mine mentioned he needed another firebreather to do gigs with, and having never even seen someone breathe fire, I obviously volunteered. He taught me how to do it and all of a sudden I’m hurling flames outside of dungeons-and-dragons events in rural Pennsylvania.

What were you rehearsing for this particularly afternoon?

I got a call from a casting director for a WWF commercial that morning asking me if I can actually breathe fire or is just on my resumé. I told him I could send him a video audition by that evening, so I grabbed some kerosene and a lighter then hit Tompkins Square Park. It’s been several years since I’ve done it but turns out it’s just like riding a bike… except with fire.

Several people sent me photos of the fire breathing that day in the Park. Did you feel as if you were receiving a lot of attention?

It’s funny, I didn’t really notice. But that’s the thing about the East Village — nothing seems out of place. A girl breathing fire in the Park is just another Tuesday in the neighborhood. Also I was just really concentrating on getting the biggest flames I could on film without setting my hair on fire. But now that I think about it, I should have put on a hat.

What is the secret to successful fire breathing?

Don’t set yourself on fire.

Penny’s Open Mic is now in its sixth year at Under St. Mark’s Theater. How have you seen this evening continue to evolve?

The great thing about the show is that it’s constantly evolving. Tons of new performers every week and really talented regulars are always there to grace the stage. It’s a wonderful mix of a little bit of everything. Being in a theater I think inspires people to be more theatrical and take bigger risks with their art. I love that every show I never know what to expect which keeps me on my toes and having fun.

Demolishing the fire-damaged back extension at Uogashi, which appears to be permanently closed

EVG regular Lola Sáenz shared this photo from Saturday ... showing workers removing the fire-damaged structure occupied by Uogashi, the Japanese restaurant at 188 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

Thankfully only the back extension needed to come down in the aftermath of the six-alarm fire in the early-morning hours of Oct. 3. DOB officials said that the rest of the five-story building was structurally sound.

The Uogashi website now lists "permanently closed" under their hours of operation. The Tree Bistro next door is still temporarily out of commission as well due to damage to their rear garden.

Officials said they believe the fire, which injured 17 people, including 14 firefighters, began in the restaurant. An exact cause has not been made public just yet.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A look at the fire-damaged Uogashi; plus video of when the fire started at 188 1st Ave.

Post-fire updates on 1st Avenue

Watch this drone footage of the fire at 188 1st Ave.

[Updating] Post fire, 1 lane of northbound traffic returns to 1st Avenue

[Updating] Report of injuries during major fire at 188 1st Ave.

Report: 188 1st Ave. survives fire; back extension must be demolished

[Updated] Report: Fatal fire at 115 Fourth Ave.

One person died in a fire last night at 115 Fourth Avenue, according to the Post.

The fire started in the victim's bedroom in The Petersfield at East 12th Street. The first reports came in just about midnight...

#Manhattan *Working High-Rise Fire* 115 4 Ave. #FDNY reporting fire on 5th floor of 8 story building. #BREAKING
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 17, 2013

Here are photos via @Mitski from the corner at East 12th Street...







And from NYC Fire Wire Facebook page...



Here's video via tarant10708 on YouTube...



The cause is under investigation, the Post reported.

Updated 7 a.m.

Here's the East 12th Street side of The Petersfield this morning...



More photos this morning via @Mitski





Updated 8:31 a.m.

ABC 7 reports that the victim is an 84-year-old woman, who the FDNY was found unconscious in the apartment.



The fire is not believed to be suspicious, per ABC 7.

Updated 6:30 p.m.

Authorities have identified Mary Lincoln Bonnell, a well-known sculptor, as the victim in last night's fire, according to the Daily News.

One neighbor called her "a real cool person." She has lived alone with her cat Amy since her husband died in 2001.

Here's an undated artist's statement from her:

I am absorbed by motion, concerned simply with how one gets from here to there and the structures that are needed to show it. My work no longer has direct reference to nature, but it remains organic. Growth and change are stimuli.

Updated

FDNY lists cause of fire...

Fire Marshals: Fatal fire at 115 4 Ave in Manhattan on 4/17 was caused by a discarded cigarette. #FDNY

— FDNY (@FDNY) April 18, 2013

Report: 188 1st Ave. survives fire; back extension must be demolished

There were concerns about the future of 188 First Ave. after last week's 6-alarm fire. There was speculation that the fire-damaged five-story building might need to be demolished here between 11th Street and 12th Street.

However, city officials said that No. 188 withstood the blaze and won't need to come down.

As Patch reported:

Department of Buildings engineers "have determined that the structural stability of [the building] was unaffected by the fire," according to department spokesman Andrew Rudansky. The structure won't face the wrecking ball.

However, Rudansky said that the extension behind Uogashi will need to be removed...


[Photo on Oct. 3 by Hillary Johnson]

There are eight apartments in the building. Residents have been allowed back in to retrieve personal belongings, but No. 188 is still under a full vacate order, per the DOB.

Officials said they believe the fire, which injured 17 people, including 14 firefighters, began in the restaurant. An exact cause has not been determined.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A look at the fire-damaged Uogashi; plus video of when the fire started at 188 1st Ave.

Post-fire updates on 1st Avenue

Watch this drone footage of the fire at 188 1st Ave.

[Updating] Post fire, 1 lane of northbound traffic returns to 1st Avenue

[Updating] Report of injuries during major fire at 188 1st Ave.

Updating: Fire engulfs southeast corner of 7th Street and 2nd Avenue; Middle Collegiate Church destroyed

Updated 11 a.m and 2 p.m. The FDNY is investigating the cause of the fire. There are published reports that four firefighters suffered minor injuries. This link has reaction from Middle Collegiate Church officials. Here's a statement from local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera... and an update from the FDNY.

-----

The FDNY is responding to a four-alarm (now five) fire at the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Second Avenue ... early reports (the first came in at 4:30 a.m.) is that the fire has destroyed the currently vacant 48 E. Seventh St. — the site of another blaze back in February. 

Early reports indicate that the fire has spread to the neighboring Middle Collegiate Church... no injuries have been reported...

4-alarm fire in 2nd Ave and 7 Street #EastVillage inside a vacant building and spreads to Middle Collegiate Church. FD reports no injuries and operations ongoing—live report at 6a. @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/qiK5c3H3OI

— 𝐌𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐍. 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 (@MylesMill) December 5, 2020

... other videos show the church engulfed in flames...

Woken by smoke and embers - Middle Collegiate Church burns in East Village - devastating. Was fire next door last Feb that gutted building on E7th St. pic.twitter.com/H4XUgnsC4R

— Revolting Lesbians (@RevoltingDykes) December 5, 2020

From my roof:@middlechurch fire, 5:30am #eastvillagenyc pic.twitter.com/4kTqraiiAU

— Duke Todd (@DukeToddIsAlive) December 5, 2020

Check back for more updates... 

Top photo by EVG reader 2ndAvenueSilverPanther

Updated 9 a.m. 

Back from the scene... the fire is under control... and now you can begin to see the extent of the damage...

Updated 10 a.m. A 7th Street neighbor shared these photos...

... and from Alexander Romanovich...

Updated 10:15 a.m. There are now concerns that the church, erected in 1891, may not stand...

On scene at devastating fire at Middle Collegiate Church, which is completely gutted.

Can’t help but think of comparisons to Notre Dame fire.

Tiffany stained glass windows destroyed.

Commanding officer told me structure may not stand.

Investigators on scene. pic.twitter.com/8uyC7YPU52

— Senator Brad Hoylman (@bradhoylman) December 5, 2020

[Updated] Report of a fatal fire early this morning at 118 Avenue D

Top photo via the Citizen app 

--UPDATED BELOW--

The FDNY is responding to a fire this morning at 118 Avenue D in the Jacob Riis Houses at Ninth Street, and there are early reports that one person has died.

As of 7:50 a.m., the fire, which started in an apartment on the fourth floor, appeared to be extinguished...

There is a massive FDNY response that stretches five blocks along Avenue D...

We'll update when more information becomes available. The FDNY responded to the fire at 7 a.m.

Updated noon

ABC 7 reports one fatality and seven injuries.

A 32-year-old man was discovered dead in the apartment by firefighters.

A 46-year-old woman was taken to the Cornell burn unit at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in critical condition.

A 13-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman were treated for smoke inhalation and burns after they climbed down exterior poles of the building to safety.

Four others suffered minor injuries.

Multiple electric bicycles were found in the fire apartment, and fire marshals are looking into the possibility that they sparked the fire.

There is a GoFundMe for the residents of the apartment where the fire started. Details here.

Instagram user @jay_staccss has dramatic footage of the two teens desperately trying to escape the fire.

 

Updated 11/18

According to published reports, an e-bike battery caused the deadly fire. There were seven e-bikes in the apartment, per CBS 2. 

“These batteries, when they’re damaged or overcharged, release hydrogen gas, explode violently,” said FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

NY1 has coverage here. 

FDNY update on this morning's fire

Here's a statement from FDNY Assistant Chief John Hodgens on this morning's fire on the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street:

"Our units arrived in three minutes, very fast response time. Upon arrival we had heavy fire showing from the corner building on East 7th Street. We quickly transmitted additional alarms to get more help here. We knew this was going to be a big operation. Fire had extended into the church on 2nd Avenue and also into another building on 7th Street. We had all of our units in position and we were quickly able to contain it to that area. We have four minor injuries to Firefighters at this time. We are going to be operating here for a while. The fire is under investigation by our marshals."

As for a cause... the fire in the same building on Feb. 10 was electrical. And this? Unrelated...

Per FDNY Fire Marshals: Cause of the 3-alarm fire on 2/10 at 48 East 7th Street in Manhattan was accidental, electrical, building wiring. The current 6-alarm fire at the same location is unrelated. FDNY operations continue and Fire Marshals are on the scene. pic.twitter.com/0FI5KwGPBr

— FDNY (@FDNY) December 5, 2020

Top photo by Steven

A look at the fire-damaged 11-13 Avenue D

Here's a look at 11-13 Avenue D one week after a two-alarm fire caused smoke and water damage in the 6-floor residential building between Second Street and Third Street. 

Windows on several of the 16 residential units are boarded up. The city also issued a full vacate order on the premises...

Per the city: 

Due to extensive fire damage at 1st-floor restaurant along with fire, water and smoke damage throughout building... fire fighting operations to vent out entire building where all windows and doors have been removed along with removal of the skylight for venting. These hazardous conditions have therefore rendered the ENTIRE premises unsafe to occupy. 

The fire has also shut down the three retail establishments at the address: Joseph's Convenience Store, New Chinatown Restaurant and Royal Fried Chicken. 

Sources said the fire started in the New Chinatown Restaurant, which was not open at the time. An EVG reader and resident of the building left a comment on the post about the fire stating that no one was injured. 

The FDNY has not released an official cause of the fire.

FDNY says fire that started at Artichoke was accidental

[EVG photo from May 26]

The FDNY took to Twitter yesterday to cite the cause of the fire at 328 E. 14th St. on May 26...

Per #FDNY Fire Marshals: Cause of 5/26 2-alarm fire at 328 East 14 St MN was accidental, due to heat from the pizza oven flue.

— FDNY (@FDNY) June 7, 2017

Per the fire marshals, the blaze "was accidental, due to heat from the pizza oven flue."

As previously reported, the two-alarm fire reportedly started inside Artichoke shortly after the pizzeria closed at 5 a.m. The fire spread from the ground level to second- and third-floor apartments through walls in the six-story building, according to the FDNY.

The Post reported on the way the pizzeria apparently learned of the fire: "A manager said he called 911 after a neighbor texted him a photo of the burning building."

The city has ordered a partial vacate on the building. An unknown number of residents have been displaced from their homes.

The pizzeria opened at 321 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, in their new home across the street from their previous location, on Tuesday. We first spotted plans for the new Artichoke last November.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Artichoke appears to be moving into a new space on 14th Street

Report of an early-morning fire at 328 E. 14th St., home of Artichoke Basille’s Pizza

Artichoke Basille's Pizza signage arrives at new 14th Street location

The new 14th Street location of Artichoke Basille's Pizza is now open

[Updated] Report of a fire at 55 3rd Ave., home of the Smith

Fire above where The Smith in the East Village is at. Whole neighborhood is covered in smoke. pic.twitter.com/vyYCnSbBjo

— Jesse Middleton (@srcasm) December 10, 2019

UPDATE BELOW

There are multiple reports coming in tonight (just after 8) about a fire on Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street. There are unconfirmed reports that the fire started at the Smith, 55 Third Ave.

Here's what the FDNY Twitter account has to say... confirming the address...

MAN ALL HANDS 55 3 AVE, HIGH RISE FIRE IN RESTARAUNT IN THE DUCTS,

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) December 10, 2019

Here's another reader photo...



Will update when there's more information...

Updated 9:25

The FDNY declared the fire under control after 40 minutes...

MAN ALL HANDS 55 3 AVE, HIGH RISE FIRE IN RESTARAUNT IN THE DUCTS, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) December 10, 2019

WABC-TV reports that the fire in a duct at the Smith caused the temporary evacuation of the Eleventh and Third Apartments, the 12-story residential building adjacent to the bistro.

No word at the moment on the status of the Smith, which opened here in 2007.

Updated 7 a.m.

There doesn't appear to be any noticeable damage inside the Smith's dining room or bar area. However, signs on the front window announce that the restaurant will be closed today "due to an unforeseen circumstance" (such as a fire in the duct)...



Updated Dec. 13

The dining room remains closed... the bar is open nightly now serving a limited menu...