Waking up to the smell of smoke in your apartment is a New York nightmare that’s been happening way too often lately. If you’ve been scrolling through social media or looking at the local news, you know that New York City fires today aren't just a coincidence—they're part of a rough winter stretch for the FDNY.
Just this morning, January 17, 2026, a massive three-alarm fire tore through a tire shop in Ridgewood, Queens.
It was a mess. Honestly, the visuals coming out of Flushing Avenue were terrifying. The fire started around 4:00 AM at 1905 Flushing Ave, and before the sun was even up, the building had partially collapsed. We’re talking about more than 100 firefighters battling a "hydrocarbon fire"—that’s basically what happens when tires catch fire and turn into a toxic, stubborn inferno.
Assistant Chief David Sims actually had to pull his teams out of the building and switch to an "exterior attack" because the rear of the structure started caving in. When tires burn, they don’t just go out with water; the FDNY had to use specialized foam to smother the oxygen. By the time it was under control around 7:00 AM, nine people were injured, including a pregnant woman and two children. Thankfully, they’re expected to be okay.
Why Ridgewood is Feeling the Heat
You might feel like you’ve heard this story before. You have. Just eleven days ago, on January 6, a massive five-alarm fire hit Madison Street, only a short distance away.
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani and FDNY officials were on the scene for that one too. It’s rare to see two major multi-alarm fires in the same neighborhood within two weeks. People are starting to ask questions. Is it the aging infrastructure? Is it the cold weather? Usually, it's a bit of both.
When the temperature drops in New York, people get desperate. Space heaters come out. Electrical systems in old Queens walk-ups get pushed to their limits.
The Reality of New York City Fires Today
Beyond the headlines, the sheer volume of calls the FDNY is handling is staggering. It’s not just the big Queens blazes. Yesterday, January 16, a fire in nearby Yonkers spread to four different residential buildings, causing one to collapse entirely into the street.
Yonkers Fire Commissioner William Fitzpatrick noted that downed power lines and icy roads made it nearly impossible for the first engines to get a handle on it. Over 50 people lost their homes in that one single incident.
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What’s Really Causing These Blazes?
People love to blame one specific thing, but the "why" behind these fires is usually a cocktail of bad luck and systemic issues.
- Lithium-Ion Batteries: Even in 2026, e-bike batteries remain a top cause of fast-moving residential fires. They don't just burn; they explode.
- The Winter Surge: Space heaters plugged into extension cords. It’s a classic mistake that keeps happening because New York apartments are notoriously drafty.
- Aging Commercial Spaces: Mixed-use buildings—like the tire shop in Ridgewood—often have older wiring in the basement or ground floor that can't handle modern electrical loads.
The Red Cross is currently helping about 30 people who were displaced by this morning's Queens fire. They’re providing emergency housing and food, but the trauma of losing everything in a 4:00 AM blaze doesn't just go away.
How to Stay Safe When the City is Burning
If you live in an older building, you've gotta be proactive. You can't just assume the landlord has everything up to code.
First off, check your smoke detectors. Do it right now. It takes two minutes. If you’re using a space heater, it needs to be plugged directly into the wall—never an extension cord or a power strip. Those strips aren't designed for the high wattage of a heater, and they will melt.
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Also, keep an eye on your neighbors. In the Ridgewood fire, building manager Jesus Maldonado saved lives by calling 911 immediately and waking people up. Sometimes, the only thing between you and a disaster is a neighbor who's paying attention.
If you see smoke or smell something "electrical" (like burning plastic), don't wait to see if it goes away. Call 911. The FDNY would much rather show up to a false alarm than a building collapse.
Actionable Steps for New Yorkers
- Map your exit: Know two ways out of your apartment. If the hallway is full of smoke, do you have a fire escape? Is it blocked by a window AC unit? Clear it today.
- Battery Safety: If you have an e-bike or scooter, never charge it overnight or near your only exit.
- Renters Insurance: Honestly, if you don't have it, get it. It costs about $15 a month and is the only thing that will help you replace your stuff if a fire spreads from the shop downstairs.
- Sign up for Notify NYC: This is the city's official emergency alert system. You'll get real-time updates on major fires and travel advisories so you aren't walking into a cloud of tire smoke on your way to the subway.
Stay safe out there. The city is a lot, especially in the winter, and looking out for each other is basically the only way we get through these stretches.