Overview
- Firefighters arrived shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday to burning trash and vehicles on Westchester Avenue in Longwood, and the blaze was declared under control around 8:19 p.m.
- Five of the seven injured firefighters suffered burns to their hands and faces, three were admitted to Jacobi Medical Center with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and all are expected to recover, officials and doctors said.
- Surveillance video reviewed by investigators appears to show someone discarding smoking material into a trash pile before the flames spread to parked vehicles.
- Multiple vehicles were destroyed and a responding fire engine sustained damage, while no civilian injuries were reported, according to authorities.
- The Bureau of Fire Investigation, Fire Prevention and hazmat units continue their review as officials urge proper disposal of smoking materials and note that piled trash and wind accelerated the spread.