Photo by Bill Tompkins
On Oct. 11, FDNY firefighters in the Bronx battled a stubborn five alarm fire that consumed a large shoe store and blanketed the area in smoke.
Shortly after 0730 HRS, units were dispatched to Bronx Box 3355 at 226 East Fordham Ave., at the corner of Valentine Avenue. First-due units found a large 100' x 150' two-story commercial building was once a Woolworth department store heavily involved. Heavy smoke was pushing from behind the roll-down security gates on the first floor, which was occupied by a Foot Locker shoe store; the second floor housed a children’s clothing store.
After the security gates were removed, handlines were advanced. Some fire was found and extinguished, but the seat of the fire could not be found. As conditions continued to deteriorate, members were withdrawn and a defensive operation was set up. A second alarm was transmitted. Two tower ladders were set up in front of the building, and another was set up on the exposure 2 side on Valentine Avenue. As the smoke condition intensified and additional alarms were transmitted, handlines and Stangs were put into operation, and a fourth tower ladder was positioned on Valentine Avenue.
Because of the building’s concrete floors, the fire never extended to the second floor. After members in the tower ladders were able to cut through the side of the building to access the void space between the first and second floor, the smoke condition finally began to lighten. A fifth alarm was transmitted for relief purposes. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but no serious injuries were reported.