CI blaze destroys building

CI blaze destroys building

A two-alarm blaze tore through a City Island building on the morning of Monday, October 5, destroying several apartments and a take-out eatery.

The fire was first reported at 6:40 a.m. and drew out a mirage of fire, police, and emergency personnel to the scene at 415 City Island Avenue. City Island Avenue was closed for several hours, as traffic during the morning commute was redirected through Minneford Avenue.

The fire, which went to a second alarm at 6:47 a.m., was deemed under control at 8:13 a.m. An American-style food delivery service called Express to Go was destroyed in the blaze, as were several apartments on the second-floor of the building.

“It is a shame, but it is valuable because it underscores why it is important that we continue to have Ladder Company 53 open on City Island,” Bill Stanton, president of the City Island Civic Association, said.

The City Island community fought the city’s plan to shut down Ladder Company 53 last winter and spring, and was finally successful in convincing the FDNY and Mayor Bloomberg’s administration to keep the Ladder 53 open.

It was estimated that had Ladder 53 not remained open, response times for search and rescue missions, like the one at 415 City Island Avenue, would have more than doubled to over 10 minutes.

While there do not appear to be any injuries to people living in the building, eleven firefighters sustained minor injuries fighting the blaze.

As of press time, the cause of the fire was still under investigation.