Firefighter Injured During Fifth Street Blaze

Sixty firefighters ran to the scene of a blaze in a three-story apartment building on Fifth Street on Thursday, and one was taken to the hospital for burns, an FDNY spokesman said.

The fire broke out in a garden apartment on Fifth Street, between Fourth and Fifth avenues, at 5:27 p.m., according to the FDNY.

Two firehouses were set up, but only one was used to put out  the flames, which were completely out at around 5:54 p.m., the FDNY spokesman said.

One fireman suffered minor burns on his knees and was transferred to New York Methodist Hospital. He is in stable condition.

The fire was categorized as “all hands,” bringing 12 units to the scene.

After the flames were extinguished, Patch spoke with a relative of the woman whose apartment was set ablaze.

Marilyn Vargas, whose mother-in-law lives in the garden apartment, was standing under an umbrella while firemen shuttled in and out of the building making sure the flames were out.

“Luckily, she wasn’t home during the fire. Her son was, but he got out okay,” Vargas said, explaining that her mother-in-law is 73. “He tried to put the fire out, but it was too strong and he ran outside.”

The FDNY said they do not have a cause for the flames, but Vargas said that her mother-in-law was cooking something on the stove and then left the apartment without turning the burners off.

When the son got home, the fire had already started, Vargas explained.

“I’m just happy they are safe. The house doesn’t matter,” Vargas said. “All that matters is that they are safe.”