Soundview NYCHA blaze displaces 45 families, injures 9
BY ROBERT WIRSING
Over 100 Soundview residents
were displaced by a recent
fi re.
According to the FDNY, approximately
200 fi refi ghters
and 50 FDNY units responded
to a 4-alarm fi re on Friday,
July 12 at 6 a.m. inside a NYCHA
building at 1466 Watson
Avenue between Evergreen
and Colgate avenues.
A FDNY spokesman confi
rmed that the fi re began inside
the 3-story building’s
cockloft, the space between
the ceiling on the top fl oor and
the roof, before spreading to
several other apartments on
the top fl oor.
Nine people, consisting of
six fi refi ghters and three civilians,
were injured in the
blaze.
One civilian and one fi refi
ghter sustained serious injuries
while the other seven victims
received minor injuries.
There were no fatalities.
Firefi ghters successfully
gained control over the fi re at
8:08 a.m.
The top fl oor apartments
sustained fi re and water damage
while the apartments below
may have some residual
water damage.
Most of the building’s windows
were shattered and its
ceilings were caved in due to
the fi re.
The extent of the damage is
still being determined.
While combating the blaze,
the FDNY used its state-of-theart
tethered drone equipped
with high defi nition and infrared
cameras to view all sides
of the building, alleyways and
shafts simultaneously.
The drone allowed the
chiefs at the command center
outside of the building to observe
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the aforementioned areas
from a safe distance.
This watchful high-tech
eye in the sky allowed the incident
commander to receive
reports of the affected areas
without having to contribute
to radio traffi c by asking for
and then listening to reports
about them.
Fire marshals have yet to
determine the fi re’s cause and
are investigating if the building’s
smoke detectors were operational.
Michael de Vupillieres,
American Red Cross New
York Greater Region communication
offi cer, said American
Red Cross teams were on
the scene providing food, water,
emotional support and
other relief items to 45 families
consisting of 149 people.
He added that the Red
Cross worked with the MTA
to have an air conditioned bus
at the scene to provide relief to
the displaced families.
Emergency housing at local
hotels was provided to 29 families
consisting of 105 people.
The Red Cross also provided
the displaced families
with emergency funds for basic
necessities.
Approximately 43 families
affected by the blaze have met
with Red Cross case workers
for additional assistance.
On the morning of Friday,
July 12, Senator Luis Sepulveda
visited 1466 Watson Avenue
as representatives from
the Red Cross and NYC Emergency
Management were providing
assistance to the displaced
families.
The senator said that fi rst
responders’ response to the incident
was encouraging.
Sepulveda has offered his
district offi ce at 900 Roger
Place as a central point for everyone
to donate food for families
displaced by the blaze.
He thanked the FDNY, Police
Service Area 8, the Red
Cross and NYCEM for their
rapid response to the incident.
Anyone in need of American
Red Cross assistance can
contact (877) RED-CROSS.
FDNY members were stationed outside of 1466 Watson Avenue after extinguishing the blaze.
Photo by Edwin Soto