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Queens, NY (August 13, 2026) – Six people were injured early on Wednesday, August 12, after a fire broke out at a home on 91st Street near 89th Avenue in the Woodhaven section of Queens. The fire was reported shortly after 2:30 a.m.
Neighbors reported hearing a loud boom before seeing smoke and flames coming from the basement. Responders searched the building and brought the fire under control in less than an hour.
Three people were taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Three others were hurt but declined medical treatment. Families living on the first and second floors were evacuated, and temporary housing assistance was being provided to those displaced.
Some residents suspected a charging e-bike battery may have been involved, but investigators had not confirmed the cause. The fire remains under investigation.
We hope everyone injured receives care and recovers fully.
Why Basement Fires Can Create Difficult Rescue Conditions
Smoke and heat from a basement fire can travel upward through stairways, vents, and openings between floors. This movement may affect living spaces before occupants can clearly see where the fire started.
Basements can also contain electrical equipment, stored materials, appliances, or batteries that may produce intense heat or harmful gases when burning. Limited exits can escape and rescue more difficult.
Building layout, ventilation, fire growth, and the amount of smoke produced can all influence injury risk. People exposed to a residential fire may need evaluation for burns, breathing problems, or smoke inhalation even when visible injuries appear limited.
