Historic Red Hook Warehouse in Brooklyn gutted by five-alarm fire; two FDNY members injured
A 155-year-old heavy-timber warehouse in Red Hook was largely destroyed overnight as hundreds of firefighters battled the blaze with water, drones and fire boats.
A five-alarm fire gutted a historic warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn, overnight, injuring two firefighters as more than 250 FDNY personnel battled the flames for nearly six hours. The unoccupied, 155-year-old warehouse—built in 1870 and described by authorities as heavy timber construction—was not brought under control until nearly 6 a.m. Thursday, fire officials said.
When crews arrived, they faced such intense flames that they were forced to fight the blaze from outside the building. Fire boats were deployed to the waterfront and drones were used to monitor hotspots as firefighters worked to contain the spread. FDNY Chief of Operations Kevin Woods said the heavy timber structure, with minimum 8-by-8 columns and girders, allowed the fire to accelerate once it took hold. The building experienced roof and fourth-floor collapses, and the incident escalated to a fifth-alarm assignment before crews regained control.
The warehouse houses an artists’ studio and was scheduled to host a public exhibit next month, but officials said it was empty at the time the fire started. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries; no other injuries were reported. Fire marshals are investigating the blaze’s cause.
Officials noted the building’s age and construction presented ongoing challenges for firefighting and safety assessments. FDNY emphasized that the structure’s heavy timber design contributed to how the fire spread, with authorities promising a detailed structural assessment once the scene stabilized.
As investigators work to determine how the fire began, firefighters will continue to monitor hotspots and ensure the stability of the remaining structure. The investigation remains ongoing.
