Photo Courtesy of FDNY
It took nearly 200 firefighters to knock down the blaze that began in the Farmers Market on Myrtle Avenue late Saturday night.
By Michael V. Cusenza
A five-alarm fire tore through a Glendale building on Saturday night injuring 12 people, including 11 firefighters.
The blaze started around 9 p.m. at the Farmers Market on Myrtle Avenue near 72nd Street. It took roughly 200 firefighters four hours to get the inferno officially under control.
The cause of the fire has not been made public.
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) noted that heavy fire engulfed the roof of the mixed occupancy dwelling and the extension into the cockloft. Earlier this month, legislation sponsored by Addabbo that would provide economic incentives for the removal of hazardous cocklofts – the space between the rafters and suspended ceiling – from residences was recently approved by the State Senate.
“Another fire has ravaged the community, reminding us of just how hazardous cocklofts can be,” Addabbo said. “This is why I have continued to put pressure on Albany to adopt legislation, effectively providing economic incentives for residents to remove these dangerous structures from their homes.”
Under the new legislation, residents whose homes contain cocklofts would be able to apply for a 30-percent tax credit to repair them. Refundable credits of up to $500 would aid eligible homeowners in affording the cost of making the improvements, Addabbo noted.
