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Fire at auto wreck shop in Brooklyn

Friday, February 23, 2007

(Brooklyn - WABC, February 23, 2007) (WABC) -- A stubborn fire at the auto wreck shop broke out about 7 p.m. Thursday night and it has been going strong ever since. Officials expect to get it out by the end of the day.

Eyewitness News reporter Patricia Wu has the latest from the scene in East Flatbush.

It is really windy where the fire broke out, and that is fueling the flames.

Officials say they are hoping to get it out by the end of the day, which is sooner than they expected.

The fire re-flared this morning, and has been burning more than 17 hours.

Four tower ladders and more than hundred firefighters are battling this stubborn blaze.

The fire chief tells Eyewitness News one of reason that is hard to deal with this fire is because you've got a 20-foot heap of old cars, appliances and other garbage burning. Also, the tires and plastics are fueling this blaze and generating thick and heavy smoke.

I spoke to the deputy chief, and he is telling me about other problems that they are facing.

"The biggest challenge is trying to get water to where the fire is, obviously. In a deep-seated fire, it basically takes a long time to penetrate," Dep. Chief Richard Fuerch from FDNY said. "So we have to redeploy our hose streams from one location to another to try and get where it is."

We asked the chief about whether this smoke is going to be a concern for the community, but he says that wind is helping to disperse the smoke quickly.

Officials say the fire look suspicious and fire marshals are investigating.

No firefighters were hurt battle in this place.

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