A firefighter went into cardiac arrest on Sunday when battling a house fire in Brooklyn, New York. Even a day later, the FDNY firefighter remains in critical condition. It struck him amid the fight against the terrifying blaze that sparked in a three-story home at 1133 Lafayette Avenue.
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Firefighter In Critical Condition After Suffering Cardiac Arrest
The inferno at around 11:30 AM on March 16 was so intense that over 100 firefighters and EMTs responded. ABC7 reported that the fire in Bushwick spread throughout all three levels of the property. A joint statement from Mayor Eric Adams and Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker revealed that this unidentified firefighter suffered a cardiac arrest while responding to this fire.
Soon after the health scare, EMS rushed to treat the firefighter. Then, they brought him to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center to receive further treatment. After that, they transferred him to Lenox Hill Hospital where he is attempting to recover in critical condition.
Battling flames isn't an easy job, and there are many risks involved. According to NFPA, 89 firefighters in the US in 2023 died on duty due to heart attacks, strokes, and other traumatic injuries. Cardiac events are the leading causes of death for firefighters due to the risks involved in their valiant job.
Since officials were focused on notifying his family members, they have not revealed his identity. For now, we just know that his health has yet to improve. FDNY Marshals are currently working to investigate how the two-alarm fire ignited.
This came after they managed to control the inferno before 1 PM on Sunday, but it wasn't an easy job. A witness shared footage on Citizen showing firefighters having to cut holes in the building's roof. They did this to ventilate the smoke to control the blaze.
Other than the firefighter who suffered a cardiac arrest, there were some other injuries. Two separate firefighters, alongside two civilians, suffered minor injuries but are now recovering.
As the investigation of this devastating inferno continues, we may find out more about how it sparked in the first place. Luckily, there were no fatalities and only a few injuries despite how dangerous this fire was.
