Scott R. Axelrod
Staten Island Advance, N.Y.
(TNS)
Jun. 17—STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Firefighters responded to a call from their own as a blaze broke out in a Staten Island firehouse in Westerleigh late Monday afternoon.
According to the FDNY, a “verbal alarm” was received just after 5:30 p.m. for a report of a possible electrical fire in the basement at 875 Jewett Ave. — the location of Engine Co. 163 and Ladder Co. 83.
Twelve units and 60 firefighters responded to the “all-hands” fire and placed it under control by around 6:40 p.m., an FDNY spokesperson said.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, but no further information was immediately available on their conditions, the spokesperson said.
Blown transformer blamed
A witness told the Advance/SILiv.e.com that sparking wires from a blown transformer on a utility pole adjacent to the firehouse had swung down and led to the firehouse fire. A severely burnt section of ground could be seen where the wires dropped down.
Con Edison crews were on the scene as the fire coincided with a power outage that affected 800 homes in Westerleigh and Castleton Corners. It’s not yet clear if the two incidents were connected.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by fire marshals, the spokesperson said.
This is a developing story and more information will be posted when it becomes available.
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