Too hot to handle: Fire truck sinks into this Lower East Side street

Photos by John Huntington 

From today on Eldridge at Grand on the Lower East Side... in the stifling heat, the front tire of a truck from Engine Company 9 on Canal Street sank into the street...

Officials called it a sinkhole... the truck was eventually safely removed ...

Report of a fire at 249 E. 13th St.

The FDNY is responding this morning to a report of a fire at 249 E. 13th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (Thanks to Hubs for the photo.) 

A reader report from the scene: "More than five ladder trucks started around 9 a.m., two hoses deployed ... lots of black smoke ... medical team standing by with gurneys at about 9:55." 

The Citizen app reports that the fire started in the basement of the three-story building with six residential units. 

Will update when more information becomes available.

Updated 11:45: According to a report via the Citizen app, two firefighters were treated for minor injuries. The fire is now under control. 

A witness says the FDNY had it wrapped up just after noon...

There wasn't any word of injuries to residents. And no word on a possible cause. 

Con Ed arrived on the scene early in the afternoon ... (thanks again to Hubs for the pics)...

Me-Wow! FDNY rescues Nico the Cat from East Village tree

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Yesterday afternoon, Second Street's FDNY Engine 28/Ladder 11 received a call that Nico the cat had escaped and was stuck high up in a tree outside his home at the Mariana Bracetti Plaza on Third Street near Avenue C.

Lt. Gallucci and firefighters Nick D'Amato, Jake Nier, Patrick Neh, Frank Dima and Gary Falco responded to the scene to carry out the rescue. 

Falco — met with cheers of "You got this, Gary!" — climbed the ladder, armed with a towel and endless patience.

After several tense minutes and a bit of feline negotiation (with loud meows), Nico was safely rescued and reunited with his relieved mom, who gave him some kitty treats and carried him home.

About 50 or 60 people stopped to watch the scene unfold. Hugs and applause followed — for both Nico and the cat-rescuing heroes of the FDNY.

[Updated] Report of a fatal fire at 65 2nd Ave. between 3rd Street and 4th Street

Top photo via a reader; other photos by Steven 

Updated 2/3: There is a crowdfunding campaign to care for the victim's dog, Bella. 

Updated 2/6: Officials identified the resident as 75-year-old Robert Bartolomey.

Updated 2/10: Bella has passed away from the injuries sustained in the fire. Details here.

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A fire broke out this morning around 10:30 on the second floor of 65 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street. There is an unconfirmed report that a resident died from the fire in the six-story building on the west side of the avenue.

The Citizen app reports the fatality as well as two minor injuries. Updated: FDNY sources confirmed the death of a 75-year-old man inside the building, per the Daily News.

According to witnesses, the FDNY responded quickly and had the fire under control before 11 a.m.

As of noon, Second Avenue is closed at Fourth Street.

Updated:

Residents were able to return to the building around 3 p.m.

We'll update the story when more information becomes available. 

Updated 7:45 p.m. 

Here's a look at the building this evening... the fire started in the second-floor unit above the now-closed former home of Double Zero in the north storefront...

Report of a fire at 328 E. 9th St.

Photos by Steven 

The FDNY is responding to a fire that broke out this afternoon on the fourth floor of 328 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Witnesses reported seeing flames shooting out of a front window...

The FDNY was on it quickly...

There's no word at the moment about the extent of the fire, its cause, or any injuries. (Preliminary word is no injuries.) 

Two eyewitnesses reported that a group of SantaCon revelers made a joke at the scene ("We can keep warm by the fire") before taking a fire selfie. 

Updated 4:30 p.m.

The FDNY remains at the scene... UNOFFICIAL word is a space heater is to blame.

Updated 5 p.m. 

There doesn't appear to be much damage to the retail spaces here... waiting to hear more from the owners tomorrow... 

Updated: Unfortunately, there is significant water damage to Jane Cookshop, and the busiess will be closed for the foreseeable future (their online shop is open) ... an.mé and Pillow Cat Books had some clean up but are OK, per their Instagram accounts...

Friday's parting shot

There was a report of a fire at 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street late this afternoon ... the FDNY sent four trucks, and, thankfully, there didn't seem to be any sign of a fire.

Thanks to Joshua Cohen for the photo.

Training day

A scene today at Engine Company 28, Ladder 11 on Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C... thanks to Patty Rat for the photo...

Report of an early morning fire at 131 Avenue A at St. Mark's Place

The FDNY responded to a report of a fire this morning on the second floor at 131 Avenue A, a six-floor building on the NW corner of St. Mark's Place. 

According to the Citizen app, the FDNY received the call at 5:15 a.m. Firefighters were seen wrapping up by 6:15 a.m.

There weren't any reports of injuries. [Updated: ABC 7 reported five residents suffered minor injuries.] Several building residents were gathered with small bags and backpacks, surveying the FDNY at work. Some of them reported leaving their apartments via the fire escapes. 

While it's too early to determine the cause of the fire, firefighters recovered a lithium-ion battery from the second floor, per ABC 7. 

The building is home to several businesses, including Starbucks and TabeTomo. It's not immediately known how much damage they may have sustained.

Monday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

After 9/11 ceremonies today, members of FDNY's Engine Company 28, Ladder 11 on Second Street gathered at the recently opened Joey Bats Cafe around the corner on Avenue B. 

They were joined by some FDNY members from other NYC station houses ... as well as some visiting firefighters, including from Oakland, Calif. 

Six members of Engine Company 28, Ladder 11 died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. In total, 26 firefighters from the four East Village station houses died on 9/11; 343 total citywide that day.

Monday's parting shot

Thanks to @nycsouthpaw for sharing this photo... of members of FDNY's Engine Company 5 (station on 14th Street near First Avenue) buying their tree from the Tree Riders on 10th Street and Second Avenue...

Report of a 2-alarm fire at 11-13 Avenue D

A two-alarm fire damaged several businesses and displaced residents late last night at 11-13 Avenue D between Second Street and Third Street. 

The @FDNYalerts account first noted the fire at 12:41 a.m. ...

Manhattan 2-Alarm Box 0415, 13 AVE D, MULTIPLE DWELLING A, 1 FLR STORE

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) September 13, 2022

... with the "under control" coming at 2 a.m. ...

Manhattan 2-Alarm Box 0415, 13 AVE D, MULTIPLE DWELLING A, 1 FLR STORE, Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) September 13, 2022

Nearby residents reported seeing flames coming through the roof of the six-floor building. (H/T Bobby G.) 

Video taken from the scene shows extensive damage to the three ground-floor businesses: Joesph's Convenience Store, New Chinatown Restaurant and Royal Fried Chicken. (New Chinatown Restaurant was not open at the time, as firefighters had to cut through the gate to access the establishment.)

At this time, there isn't any official word of injuries, the origin of the fire or the extent of the damage to the residential units.

Updated 8:30 a.m. 

EVG reader Bobby G. shares this photo from this morning...

Screengrabs via video by THEMAJESTIRIUM1.

Reader report: FDNY truck collides with vehicle on 10th Street and Avenue C

Several EVG readers shared info from a Citizen post yesterday ... in which an FDNY truck collided with a car, sending the vehicle into the sidewalk bridge on the NE corner of 10th Street and Avenue C.

There weren't many details about the collision, except that the vehicle took down the light pole on the corner.

There weren't any reports of injuries. Will update if/when more information is available. 

Top image via Citizen

Officials: Police arrest teen accused of starting fire that destroyed the Essex Card Shop

A teen has been arrested in connection to the fire that destroyed Essex Card Shop at 47 Avenue A on Jan. 10. 

An FDNY official confirmed the arrest (as well as age and gender) to EVG contributor Stacie Joy. We're told the charges include second-degree arson for the 13-year-old, whose name was not released due to his age. 

Officials and other sources said that the teen was seen leaving the shop minutes before management smelled smoke. Investigators were able to pull photos/videos from the store surveillance camera. 

The fire destroyed Essex Card Shop, which moved here between Third Street and Fourth Street in June 2020 after 20 years on a storefront one block to the south. 

Owner Muhammad Aslam has said he will reopen the business, which has collected more than $65,000 in a crowdfunding effort to help pay for expenses and lost income. 

The fire also temporarily shuttered Downtown Yarns next door.

As previously noted, the stout cement ceiling and brick walls in the storefronts of the 13-floor Ageloff Towers served as a firebreak and prevented further damage to the building and adjacent businesses.

Scenes from the fire today at 47 Avenue A

More than 100 members of the FDNY responded late this afternoon to a two-alarm fire at the Essex Card Shop at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

The FDNY had the fire under control in less than an hour. Two firefighters sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Thankfully, there weren't any other injuries reported. 

The popular Card Shop, which relocated here in June 2020 from a block to the south, was destroyed. Next-door neighbor Exit9 received some smoke and water damage but remains structurally intact. (Read our previous post for more details.) 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

EVG contirbutor Stacie Joy was quickly on the scene after the fire was reported around 4:45 and shared these photos...

As you can see, the Card Shop is in ruins...

 

Saba Aslam, the daughter of owner Muhammad Aslam at Essex Card Shop, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help rebuild the business. Find the link here.

[Updated] Fire destroys Essex Card Shop on Avenue A

Updated: Saba Aslam, the daughter of owner Muhammad Aslam at Essex Card Shop, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help rebuild the business. Find the link here.

The FDNY is responding to a two-alarm fire that started inside the Essex Card Shop shortly after 4:30 p.m. at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street.

It was a frightening scene as thick black smoke hugged the east-facing wall of the Ageloff Towers.

The early word is that the shop has been destroyed.

No word just yet to damage other businesses here or the apartments above in the Ageloff Towers.

Shot this video clip at 4:52 p.m.

We'll continue to update...

Updated 6:45 p.m. (photo below by Steven)

Everyone is reported to be safe. EVG contributor Stacie Joy spoke with Muhammed and Jayant at the Essex Card Shop. Unfortunately, the shop is in ruins. Jayant said that he smelled smoke coming from the bathroom in the rear of the store and immediately called the FDNY. Both of them said they were grateful that no one was hurt.

In addition, they both said that they would come back from this.

Next door at 51 Avenue A, everyone is safe at Exit9, which sustained minor water and smoke damage. Downtown Yarns appears to be OK as well.

A fire official told Stacie that the cement ceiling and brick walls in the storefronts served as a firebreak and prevented further damage to the building.

We've heard reports of residents who had to evacuate the 13-floor Ageloff Towers above the shops. The resident reports say that this was done safely, and there weren't any reports of injuries. No word on damage to the residential units above the shops. 

EVG reader Eric FG shared this photo of Jayant shortly after the report of the fire...