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19 September 2025
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FDNY crews respond to major fire inside historic Brooklyn arts warehouse, US
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Firefighters continue to put out hotspots nearly 24 hours after a massive fire ripped through a large warehouse used by artists in Brooklyn. “Just after 11h30 Wednesday night, 17 September 2025, the FDNY responded to a 5-alarm fire at 481 Van Brunt Street in Brooklyn. Units arrived in under three minutes. Over 250 firefighters and EMS personnel responded. Two firefighters were transported with minor injuries. “This building is a very large, four storey commercial building. Upon arrival, we had heavy fire on the second, third, fourth floor, and through the roof. Due to the amount of fire and the structural stability of the building, we removed our members and attacked the fire from the exterior, from the front and the rear with large calibre streams. The rear of this building is on the water, so we called in Marine 9, and we used some of their large calibre streams to extinguish the fire,” said Chief of Operations Kevin Woods.
At least two firefighters received medical attention from EMS at the scene. One was observed being escorted to an ambulance, though it is unclear if hospitalization was required.
The building, built in 1870 and constructed mostly of heavy timber, fuelling the massive inferno.
In the rear of the building, FDNY crews docked the fire boat Marine 9, a 140-foot vessel with the capacity to pump 50 000 gallons of water a minute.
"We had extensive damage to this building. We had the roof collapse and we also had the fourth floor collapse. So we will have structural engineers evaluate that," FDNY Chief Woods said.
By daybreak, the fire was put under control, but after the sun went down, stubborn flames once again picked up. FDNY ladders were still up while crewed dosed hotspots in the four-story warehouse that has devastated dozens of artists in the building.
. Police say the five-alarm fire first broke out inside the warehouse on Van Brunt Street in Red Hook around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 September 2025. Drone video released by the FDNY showed the scope of the overnight warehouse fire, which started right next door to the third-floor woodworking studio where artist Christopher Bailey has been making custom furniture for more than 20 years.
"I walked here and then I saw what was happening. And it was very clear that it was one very hot spot that was burning," Bailey said.
"I was notified at 5:00 this morning that a fire broke out on the third floor. We're on the fourth floor. I just see water pouring in through the roof," one woman told Eyewitness News.
George Fiala edits the local community paper from an office in the building. "There's so much water being used to put out this fire it's kind of like it's weather event except it's a man-made weather event," he said.
One tenant, who declined to be identified, says she uses her space to restore historical pieces of art for museums and high-end galleries. "A lot of chemistry, a lot of research, a lot of very careful work under the microscope. It's very tedious, careful work to take care of everyone's collection," she said.
The large building, houses multiple artist studios, with 50 to 100 artists using the space. Eyewitness News obtained a glimpse of the heartbreaking destruction inside, where "Red Hook Open Studios," a showcase of more than 150 artists, is scheduled to take place in October.
"We're kind of trying to rally the neighbourhood. It kind of reminds me of the disaster from Sandy, where all the artists and all the businesses are like reaching out. They already started their crowdsourcing," said Deborah Ugoretz, co-organiser of "Red Hook Open Studios."
No one was believed to be inside at the time of the blaze, which is under investigation.
Sources: FDNY, New York Daily News
At least two firefighters received medical attention from EMS at the scene. One was observed being escorted to an ambulance, though it is unclear if hospitalization was required.
The building, built in 1870 and constructed mostly of heavy timber, fuelling the massive inferno.
In the rear of the building, FDNY crews docked the fire boat Marine 9, a 140-foot vessel with the capacity to pump 50 000 gallons of water a minute.
"We had extensive damage to this building. We had the roof collapse and we also had the fourth floor collapse. So we will have structural engineers evaluate that," FDNY Chief Woods said.
By daybreak, the fire was put under control, but after the sun went down, stubborn flames once again picked up. FDNY ladders were still up while crewed dosed hotspots in the four-story warehouse that has devastated dozens of artists in the building.
. Police say the five-alarm fire first broke out inside the warehouse on Van Brunt Street in Red Hook around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 September 2025. Drone video released by the FDNY showed the scope of the overnight warehouse fire, which started right next door to the third-floor woodworking studio where artist Christopher Bailey has been making custom furniture for more than 20 years.
"I walked here and then I saw what was happening. And it was very clear that it was one very hot spot that was burning," Bailey said.
"I was notified at 5:00 this morning that a fire broke out on the third floor. We're on the fourth floor. I just see water pouring in through the roof," one woman told Eyewitness News.
George Fiala edits the local community paper from an office in the building. "There's so much water being used to put out this fire it's kind of like it's weather event except it's a man-made weather event," he said.
One tenant, who declined to be identified, says she uses her space to restore historical pieces of art for museums and high-end galleries. "A lot of chemistry, a lot of research, a lot of very careful work under the microscope. It's very tedious, careful work to take care of everyone's collection," she said.
The large building, houses multiple artist studios, with 50 to 100 artists using the space. Eyewitness News obtained a glimpse of the heartbreaking destruction inside, where "Red Hook Open Studios," a showcase of more than 150 artists, is scheduled to take place in October.
"We're kind of trying to rally the neighbourhood. It kind of reminds me of the disaster from Sandy, where all the artists and all the businesses are like reaching out. They already started their crowdsourcing," said Deborah Ugoretz, co-organiser of "Red Hook Open Studios."
No one was believed to be inside at the time of the blaze, which is under investigation.
Sources: FDNY, New York Daily News
