On December 18^th, multiple stores in a taxpayer in the Bronx were gutted in a five alarm blaze that caused no serious injuries.

At just before 10:30 PM, units were dispatched on a “loaded up” box due to quality and quantity of calls received to a reported fire in a multiple dwelling at 954 Prospect Ave. On arrival the fire was discovered in an adjoining taxpayer at 855 Prospect Ave. Heavy fire was in a 75 X 60 one story  structure with multiple retail stores and a large abandoned theatre in the rear as exposure “C”. Flames broke through the roof and a full second alarm was transmitted and followed quickly by a third alarm and a fourth at 10:56.

Operations were ordered defensive  with four tower ladders in operation as well as three Multiversals and several hand lines. A fifth alarm was sounded at 11:19 as a heavy rain fell. The flames were contained to the original structure. The fire was able to be placed “probably will hold” at 01:21. Units remained on the scene well into the morning with many units rotated for relief.