Brooklyn, NY (May 21, 2026) – Four people were hurt, including two firefighters, after a fire broke out early on Thursday morning in a Red Hook apartment building off Columbia Street. The fire started just after 5 a.m. at the Red Hook East Housing Development and caused heavy damage to a unit on the fifth floor. Emergency units took about an hour and a half to bring the flames under control.
Two residents were taken to a hospital for treatment. One firefighter was also hospitalized, while a second was evaluated and cleared at the scene. All building residents were evacuated to the courtyard during the fire. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
The cause of the fire had not been determined at the time of publication, but it remains under review, and further details will follow as they become available.
We wish a full recovery to all four people hurt in this early morning fire.
What Tenants in Multi-Story Apartment Buildings Should Know About Fire Safety
Fires in multi-story residential buildings present unique challenges for both occupants and emergency crews. Upper-floor fires can spread quickly through elevator shafts, stairwells, and ventilation systems if doors and fire barriers are not properly maintained. Residents are generally advised to stay low, feel doors before opening them, and use stairwells rather than elevators during evacuation.
In large housing developments, coordinating the evacuation of many residents at once adds time and complexity to an already fast-moving emergency. Early-morning fires, like this one, are particularly dangerous because many people are asleep and may not detect smoke quickly. Smoke detectors on every floor and in every unit, combined with a clear understanding of the building’s evacuation plan, are among the most effective tools for reducing harm when a fire breaks out.
