“It was unbearable”: raging fire leaves six firefighters injured and residents displaced in Astoria

On Thursday, a large firefighting operation was seen in a Queens neighborhood after a fire in a residential building spread to a nearby church.

The fire started in an apartment located at 27-21 12th Street, between 27th and Main avenues, around 6:46 p.m. in the Astoria section of the borough.

According to the New York City Fire Department, six firefighters were injured in the five-alarm blaze. All injuries were considered non-life-threatening.

Thursday night’s breeze caused the thick smoke to seep into residential buildings in the area, forcing residents to evacuate their homes.

“The smell is very strong, so we had to leave,” said Eliseo Ángeles, a resident of the area.

The flames spread to the First Reformed Church of Astoria.

“Since we live on the third floor, practically all the smoke came into the apartment,” said Ana Portilla, another local resident. “It was unbearable; we had to close the windows.”

At least 192 people, including firefighters and paramedics, responded to the scene.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The investigation is ongoing.