More Stories






A large overnight fire tore through part of a building in Cypress Hills, leaving behind burned bikes, scooters and heavy damage across the property.
FDNY says the fire broke out just after 1:20 a.m. Wednesday at 503 Ridgewood Ave., near Lincoln and Autumn avenues. Firefighters say flames were reported on the first floor of the three-story building.
Video from the Citizen app shows huge flames shooting from the back of the property as sirens echoed through the neighborhood.
FDNY says 21 units and 79 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene. Hazmat crews were also called in because of the presence of lithium-ion batteries. The fire was brought under control around 2:13 a.m.
Officials say no injuries were reported. A full vacate order has now been posted on the property.
Neighbor Jose Mena said the situation could have turned deadly. “I came out and by the time I came out, the fire was spreading already,” Mena said. “One of the guys who lives there, he was trying to wake everybody up. This could’ve been worse — a lot worse. People were sleeping.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.