Firefighters Battle Three-Alarm Blaze in Freezing Temperatures

By Y.M. Lowy

Early Wednesday morning, firefighters faced freezing temperatures while battling a three-alarm fire at a Brooklyn deli. The blaze erupted at 5:30 a.m. inside 590 Broadway in Williamsburg.

Upon arrival, members of Battalion 35 were met with heavy smoke pouring from the deli, which was on the first floor of a three-story building. The cold weather made things harder for the firefighters, with frozen hydrants making it tough to get water. The frozen inventory inside the deli further delayed their ability to control the fire.

As the flames spread quickly to several apartments above the deli, a fourth alarm was sounded to call in more units. In total, about 138 firefighters from 33 units responded, along with emergency medical services and the 90th Precinct. Using five hose lines, the firefighters launched a strong interior attack to put out the fire. They successfully brought the fire under control by around 7:20 a.m.