Overview

• The blaze erupted late Wednesday at 481 Van Brunt Street, escalated to five alarms, and drew more than 250 FDNY and EMS personnel with support from a fireboat and drones.
• Firefighters shifted to an exterior attack after parts of the roof and the fourth floor collapsed, with the fire largely under control by early Thursday and hot spots still being extinguished Friday morning.
• Two firefighters suffered minor injuries and were treated at hospitals, and officials said the warehouse was unoccupied when the fire started.
• FDNY fire marshals are investigating the origin as the Department of Buildings conducts structural inspections; the property manager told CBS the fire began on the third floor where carpenters have shops.
• The four-story, 1870s warehouse housed dozens of artist studios, BWAC exhibitions, and small businesses, and a community GoFundMe is raising relief funds ahead of the planned Red Hook Open Studios event.