One person died and nearly two dozen were injured Saturday after a fire erupted in Flushing, Queens, spreading to three buildings.

Queens Fire Spreads Rapidly

The blaze was reported shortly before 10 a.m. on 41st Road near College Point Boulevard. Fire officials stated the fire began on the first floor of a two-story, wood-frame home. Upon arrival, firefighters found two of the five adjacent buildings fully engulfed, with flames extending to a third structure.

Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods described the affected buildings as constructed in 1930 and made entirely of wood. He noted that such construction allows fire to travel exceptionally fast, making containment difficult.

Casualties and Response

At least one resident was rescued from the second floor of the building where the fire originated. The incident escalated to a five-alarm fire, drawing more than 250 firefighters and EMS personnel to the scene. The fire has since been brought under control, though the FDNY expects to remain on site for an extended period to monitor for hotspots.

The FDNY confirmed a 78-year-old woman, a resident of one of the affected homes, died from her injuries at a local hospital. Her identity has not been released.

A second resident sustained minor injuries. Additionally, 21 FDNY members were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, including heat exhaustion, smoke inhalation, and minor sprains. These figures represent the extent of the Queens fire's impact.

Displacement and Aid

The buildings involved suffered significant damage, leading to the displacement of multiple families. One couple recounted to CBS News New York their escape from a fire-ravaged home, noting they were forced to leave behind crucial documents like passports, representing years of work since immigrating to the United States.

The Red Cross was present at the scene to provide assistance to those affected by the fire.