Thomas Tracy
New York Daily News
A massive fire broke out in an NYPD Brooklyn auto impound yard Tuesday morning, seriously injuring two firefighters.
At least two firefighters have suffered serious injuries fighting the blaze, which may have been sparked by an ion-lithium battery, according to preliminary reports.
The blaze broke out at the Erie Basin Auto Pound on Columbia St. in Red Hook about 10:30 a.m.
The NYPD uses the auto pound to hold all the illegal dirt bikes and ATVs cops seize from city streets. Vehicles that are evidence in crime investigations, such as cars that victims were shot inside, are kept there as well.
A vehicle outside caught fire and the flames quickly spread to the lot’s warehouse.
The fire sent up a massive plume of black smoke that could be seen for miles.
Massive fire at the NYPD’s evidence facility in Red Hook https://t.co/n49FYcYOWk pic.twitter.com/gHNznQq5Xo
— myles miller (@MylesMill) December 13, 2022
FDNY fireboats were dispatched to put out the waterfront blaze.
More than 33 units and 140 firefighters have been tasked with putting out the fire, which was still raging by 12 p.m.
Two firefighters were taken to an area hospital with serious injuries, FDNY officials said. The fire has yet to be extinguished.
An exact cause for the fire has not been determined.
In June, Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell went to the auto pound to watch 100 of the seized vehicles get crushed into scrap metal and warn people against using them.
©2022 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
