Fire In Queens Burns 80 Homes
The fire started late Monday night in an area of Roackaway peninsula where high winds downed trees and power lines. 200 firefighters battled to contain the flames, but chest-high water in the street made fighting the fire dangerous. Several dozen people had to be rescued from the six-alarm blaze by boat.Three people were injured, including one firefighter.
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“The damage was massive and widespread,” said Dennis Dier, director of security for local Breezy Point. “This is New York’s Katrina.”
It is not clear what started the fire, according to CNN.
ABC caught footage of homes as they burned.
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The Queens fire was one of 23 that broke out in the city during the storm, Businessweek reported. The fire occured in an area classified by New York City Office of Emergency Management as a Zone A area, the highest rating given for flood risk, NBC reported.
SEE ALSO: Hurricane Sandy Forces Mass Evacuations In Mid-Atlantic
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