A massive 5-alarm fire tore through a Queens neighborhood, injuring a firefighter and forcing dozens of families from their homes as crews battled intense flames and smoke.

A Heartbreaking Blaze in Ridgewood: Firefighters Hurt, Families Lose Everything in Massive Queens Fire
The Night the Fire Started

Early on Tuesday morning, January 6, 2026, a fierce fire broke out in a quiet residential block in Ridgewood, Queens. What started as a small blaze on the first floor of a three-story home at 18-24 Madison Street quickly turned into a five-alarm monster that swallowed the building and threatened neighboring ones. By the time the sun came up, the roof had caved in, walls were charred beyond recognition, and nearly thirty families were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
How the Blaze Spread So Fast

The call came in just after 3:20 a.m. Flames were already visible, licking up the sides of the old wooden-framed house near Onderdonk Avenue. Ridgewood is one of those classic New York neighborhoods—tight rows of century-old buildings packed close together, the kind where fire can jump from one home to the next in minutes. That’s exactly what happened. Within an hour, the fire had spread through every floor, collapsed the roof, and forced firefighters to pull back and fight from outside.
The Brave FDNY Response

More than 270 FDNY members—firefighters, paramedics, chiefs—rushed to the scene with 84 units. They battled from ladders, rooftops, and the street, pouring water on flames that refused to die down easily. Chief of Department John Esposito later described the chaos: fire on every level, structural collapse, and extension to the buildings on both sides. Four nearby homes had to be evacuated just to keep people safe.
Injuries Amid the Chaos

But bravery comes at a cost. Five firefighters were injured in the fight. One of the most alarming moments came when a heavy window air-conditioning unit broke loose from the burning building and crashed down onto a firefighter’s head. He stayed conscious the whole time, but the pain was intense. He and another seriously hurt colleague were rushed to the hospital. Three others suffered smaller injuries—cuts, smoke inhalation, exhaustion—but were treated right there on the scene. A resident also ended up in the hospital with minor injuries.
A Miracle in the Midst of Tragedy
No one died, and that alone feels like a small miracle given how fast everything went wrong.
Families Left Homeless Overnight

When the smoke finally cleared, the human toll became heartbreakingly clear. Dozens of people—families with kids, elderly residents, lifelong tenants—stood in the cold, wrapped in Red Cross blankets, watching their homes reduced to blackened shells. The city set up an emergency center at nearby P.S. 239, where displaced neighbors could get food, warm clothes, and help figuring out where to sleep that night.
Noemi Bargas: Three Decades Gone in Flames
Noemi Bargas had been away on Long Island visiting her daughter for the holidays when she turned on the television and saw her building on the news. She’d lived there almost thirty years. “I kept hoping it wouldn’t spread,” she said, voice trembling. “But everything is gone now.” Still, she found a way to hold onto gratitude. “God is good,” she told reporters. “These are just things. Memories can’t be taken away.”
Eduard Skiber: A Lifetime Lost
Eduard Skiber’s story hits even harder. Born in 1958, he’s lived in that building practically his entire life—since 1959. His parents are gone, his sister passed a few years ago, and he never owned a car or moved away. Standing in front of the ruins, he said quietly, “That’s all I had. That’s it.” You could hear the weight of decades in his words.
The Heart of Ridgewood
Ridgewood has always been a place where generations put down roots. Many of the residents are working-class families, immigrants who saved for years to afford a home in New York City. Losing everything overnight is devastating in ways that go beyond replacing furniture or clothes.
Mayor Mamdani Steps Up

Newly sworn-in Mayor Zohran Mamdani arrived at the scene—the second major fire he’d visited in just two days, after another five-alarm blaze in the Bronx the day before. He spoke directly to the exhaustion of the firefighters, many of whom had worked both incidents back-to-back. “Two massive fires in 48 hours with no loss of life—that’s a tribute to the incredible men and women of the FDNY,” he said. “We ask so much of them, and they keep delivering.”
What Caused It? Questions Remain
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Winter is always a risky season—heating systems working overtime, space heaters, old wiring—but nothing has been confirmed yet. What is certain is that rebuilding lives will take far longer than putting out the flames.
The Aftermath: Charred Remains

The morning light revealed the full extent of the damage—collapsed structures and burned-out shells standing as stark reminders.
Community Coming Together
As cleanup crews begin the long process of clearing debris and securing the site, the community is already stepping up. Neighbors are collecting clothes and toiletries. Local churches and organizations are opening their doors. The Red Cross and city agencies are working around the clock to find temporary housing.
Resilience in the Face of Loss
Stories like this remind us how fragile normal life can feel in a big city. One moment you’re asleep in your own bed; the next, everything familiar is gone. Yet in the middle of all that loss, people still find ways to lean on faith, on neighbors, on the strangers in uniforms who run toward danger so the rest of us can stay safe.
Looking Ahead
Our thoughts are with the injured firefighters as they recover, with the families starting over from scratch, and with a neighborhood that will need time—and a lot of help—to heal.

SOURCES/REFERENCES:-

• Spectrum News: Coverage of the five-alarm fire in Ridgewood, Queens, including firefighter injuries and displacement of families.
• ABC7 New York: Detailed report on the fire, firefighter injured by a falling air conditioner, and about 30 families forced out of their homes.
• Patch: Local update on the blaze, response, injuries, and displaced residents.
• NBC New York: News on the Ridgewood inferno and injuries as flames tore through multiple buildings.
• People.com: Associated national coverage summarizing the injuries, firefighter struck by falling AC unit, and families displaced.