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Spencer Platt / Getty Images
Firefighters battle a six-alarm fire at a seven-story apartment building in Brooklyn, NY, on Thursday, July 26, 2012.
Justin Lane / EPA
New York City firefighters work to extinguish a six alarm fire in a seven-story apartment building in Brooklyn, NY, Thursday, July 26, 2012. The fire broke out in the attic of the building earlier this morning.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
Firefighters battle a six-alarm fire at a seven-story apartment building in Brooklyn, NY, on July 26.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
A New York City firefighter is taken away on a stretcher from the scene of a six-alarm fire on July 26.
At least two dozen firefighters were hurt in a massive six-alarm fire in the Wingate neighborhood of Brooklyn that fire officials believe was sparked by lightning, authorities said. One civilian was treated at the scene, fire officials said.
More than 200 firefighters battled the blaze at the seven-story apartment building Thursday afternoon. The fire was reported under control by 1:45 p.m., about three and a half hours after it started, the FDNY tweeted from the scene.
The entire seventh floor of the building was gutted and hundreds of tenants have been displaced, officials said. Fire marshals have yet to determine for certain whether lightning was the cause, according to FDNY spokesman Frank Dwyer. Continue reading.
Justin Lane / EPA
Local residents take pictures as New York City firefighters work to extinguish a six alarm fire in a seven-story apartment building in Brooklyn, NY, July 26. The fire broke out in the attic of the building earlier this morning.
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I have a sister who lives in NY on the fifth floor of an industrial building...not to code...but all she can afford, even after getting a masters, because NY is out of this world for rent.
25 years ago, I lived in Pound Ridge, NY, about 30 minutes outside the city, where the rent on a two bedroom, 1 bath apartment over the town newspaper, old, not kept up, was $1,200 a month, and the bedrooms were 9 x 10, the bathroom had mold, etc. This was 25 years ago!
I moved from that to a house rental, with 3 volunteer firefighters, not getting paid for what they did in the same community. Does anyone know what it's like to have 3 alarms go off at 2 am at the same time to respond to a fire, either in our township or the surrounding towns? Does anyone know that they all got their butts out of bed instantly and responded? We all rented that house together, we didn't own it, but 3 out of four of us got our butts out of bed to help others, with no compensation, at all hours to help the community.
Oh, and those of you who state they are getting paid for it....take into account the wives sitting at home waiting. Take into account the nightmares they have when they have to use the jaws of life extracating someone who has been decapitated during a car accident. It's not all about FIRES! It's about being there for someone in need.
I was the someone waiting at home.... these guys face something that none of us want to deal with, yet they step up. At home, I was the someone trying to help them balance the responsibilites they had with the humanity of normal living. The nightmares they face.... until you face them you have no idea how it haunts them.
I applaud the NY Fire department for stepping up, whether they are paid or not.
And we fuss and fret about some hundreds of millions of dollars spent on a pole vault somewhere in England while these true athletes work and save real lives with or without a damn contract!
Thank you whodunit, on the sentiment. These guys deserve respect for how they support us, their communities, and what that costs them. The training, how they come home coughing their butts off afterwards and just get their azzes out of bed at any houir...yeah, I can really support that. These guys make maybe $50,000 to $100,000 per year depending on where they live...and that doesn't take into effect the guys that volunteer with no pay?
I certainly have a lot of respect for them.
I agree with"disappointed and ashamed"... We should no more consider these guys "heros" than we do military guys. They also volunteered for the job and get paid to do it. We should reserve the word Hero for sports atheletes, movie stars, and hip hop artists!!! Heaven forbid a yound kid has someone to look up to that models charachter, integrity, and selflessness. If you have never put your own life up as colateral to save another, than you have no place to judge those who have. Thank you to those firefighters and soldiers who do every single day of their lives! Strong work my brothers!
Thank you Wendell, for your sarcasm. The thing is, to be a hero, it's not why you do it. It's because you believe in what you are doing; and don't need to be recognized for it. Which is why we don't see true hero's being recognized.
For over a year, I saw my room-mates come back from these calls. Two of the three were able to express their horror and share the experiences. I always worried about the third.
The point is... all three of them stepped up for all of us, didn't worry about getting paid, but even if they had of been paid, they cared and put up the effort to show that they did.
That's a true hero, someone who steps up, doesn't give a crap if they are recognized, and keeps doing the job.
being a retired fireman and seeing this brings me back a few years heat exaustion,, smoke in ihailation,,on a hot humid day . i recommend a tour off and hydration fresh air ........go to the park plenty of fresh air and get a 12 pack plenty of hydration ///dpnt worry bloomie is in THE HAMPTONS OR BAHAMAS ANYWAY job well done boys stay safe ynkrs
Thank you boyhomer, for your time saving others.
Funny about our job...COWARDS need not apply.....or post ignorant comments hiding behind annonymity.
Its not about a paycheck for the thousands of second and third generation FDNY members, its about family. Ignorance aside, understand most posters will NEVER understand what we do from the HEART not for the paycheck!!!
Marc B. RET L-86 FDNY
Thank you marc. I don't live there now...but I certainly know the heart behind it, the commitment, and I appreciate it more than you know.
Thank you Marc. My father is a retired firefighter and my brother is a firefighter now. I have nothing but respect for you and what you do each and every day for us. You are a true hero. God bless you and every other firefighter out there.
This goes out to all the folks who think firefighters, EMT's and cops don't deserve their pay.
Figure out how much you make for what you actually do.
Now add missing holidays and special times with family pay. Now add chemical and bio-hazard exposure pay. Now add high rates of divorce and suicide pay. Now add the average life expectance after retirement is 3-5 years pay. Now add the images of countless dead, burned and mangled people (including kids) pay.
And now add the most important thing. The fact that no matter how many years you have served your country and your community, cleaning up messes that no one else wants to deal with, when it is time to blame someone for the mis-management of government money, you are the one that gets the blame.
Thats like blaming the soldier in the trenches for the war he/she is fighting in.
Good vibes on this post , took almost 30+ post before someone like Zippy to put the hate on.
Maybe Zip should chase a firetruck to a fire and take a look at the faces of the people they help , hopefully the F/F won't have to be a hero but at least he there if need be
KUDOS to all those fire fighters and speedy recovery to all who were injured. They do one heck of a job and they deserve the best care possible.
I doubt a lot of the residents had renters insurance so I see a lot of lawsuits coming, people making money off of a tragedy, and another business (the apartment complex) going under to pay all these people.
Firefighters are a Great bunch of People. My Brother was one for over twenty years. They Work Hard and Play Hard. They pay a huge price, physically and emotionally, so we might be safe. Please pull over when you see and hear them coming. They may just be going to rescue your loved one or try to save your House. That was probably my Brothers biggest complaint. People would ignore them. Whether it was a Rescue Unit or Hook and Ladder! Please, just pull over!
Once again they ran in where others ran out.. May God bless the NYFD
God bless the firefighters. My dad retired from the fire department here after 30 years of service and one of my brothers is a firefighter as well. Yes, they get paid better, because they risk their lives every single day to save our sorry asses. They run into buildings that the rest of us would run out of. They have better medical insurance because the risk of them being seriously injured (not to mention killed) on the job is very high. They deserve the utmost respect from us all because we never know when it's OUR ass they'll be saving.
There is a special place in Heaven for firefighters and God bless them, each and every one.
I think that firefighters are doing the Lord's work! I have to ask all of you Trolls two thing. Why are you mad that they get benefits? And are you willing to post your address so that these overpaid, overhyped men and women know where in their town they need not answer calls to?
The number of morons in this world is becoming unbearable! Thank God for people like the NYFD and others who do a great job for us, no matter what the pay. I like to believe that if it were me or my family that it would be one of them that takes the trouble to help. God speed for all those injured.
awesome job to the FDNY some of the comments are well messed up on hear its pretty sad that 90% of the world is heartless and they would rather get enjoyment from peoples suffering then help them out. My grand dad told me stories of when if somthing like this happend the entire neighborhood would come and help rebuild. And sadly we are not like that anymore.
Firefighters see a lot of crap. In the small town I am from they are the first responders. My dad a volunteer fireman has had to cut my best friend out of a car wreck that took her life. He only makes $4 a call, works two jobs. He does it because he loves to help others. Even if he would be one of the ones that get paid the good wages it is still a job you would have to want to do. The emotional stress far out ways any pay. My dad withdrew himself from everybody for a while after my friends death. She was like one of his children. Appreciate you fire fighters. police officers, emts, paramedics, and etc. Unless you are one or know one you do not know what they go through. Negative comments are of ignorance.
God bless and keep you safe NYPD from a volunteer firefighter.
Heroes all..my son-in-law is a firefighter, and our hero. He is also a wonderful father and husband to his family; he is also a humble and giving man...
WOW! You really think the pay is that good, How much do you think the guy that drives the garbage truck makes? How much is a persons life worth? I bet you think yours or a loved ones is pretty valuable. I do this job because I LOVE IT! I made more as a contractor, but I can't put a value on the feeling I get when I help someone that is truly in need. You talk about PAY it's not about the pay but why should we not get compensation for putting our lives on the line. No I'm not a hero but I don't mind a thank you every now and then. I know I have made a difference in the lives of a few people and I would bet they would say I'm worth every PENNY because I was there on the worst day of their lives. As for those of you that can't just say GOD BLESS and PLEASE BE WITH THOSE THAT GOT HURT IN NY then I say to you f-OFF I hope nobody is there when you need them. GOD be with you my BROTHERS and SISTERS in the "big apple" wishing you a speedy recovery. Just so you know I also VOLUNTEER at my local fire dept. in my time off.
If you think firefighters are the reason for cities going broke then you have a warped sense of reality. I do this job because I love it NOT for the PAY! I made a hell of a lot more as a contractor. GOD BLESS to those of you that send prayers and good wishes to you I say THANK YOU as for you others F-OFF! To my BROTHERS and SISTERS in NY GOD BLESS, Speedy recovery to you all!!!
The brave men and women of fire departments who risk their lives to save others should be applauded and respected. Stop with the wage war debates and who owes whom what. That's inappropriate. Whether you live in a 7th floor walk-up apartment or a mansion by the sea, if your home was ablaze, you would be begging for the swift response of firefighters. Another job well done FDNY and a speedy recovery to all who were injured.