US News

4 killed in fire at mixed-use building in Queens, New York

Published on

March 16, 2026

Four people were killed and two others were critically injured in a four-alarm fire at a mixed-use building in Queens, New York, according to fire officials.

The fire was reported just before 12:30 p.m. on Monday at 44-49 College Point Boulevard in Flushing, a neighborhood in northern Queens. FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said crews arrived in about four minutes and found heavy fire at the scene.

Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said firefighters found heavy fire on all three floors of the building, which had commercial space on the first floor and about five apartments on the upper floors.

He said three people jumped from the upper floors and another victim was trapped on the second floor and removed by firefighters using a portable ladder.

Woods said two firefighters were also trapped after stairs collapsed as crews advanced from the first floor to the second, but they were later extricated. He said other firefighters performed CPR on victims in the street and described the building as heavily damaged.

EMS Chief Michael Escobar said there were nine civilian victims in the fire. Three were initially pronounced dead, two were taken to hospitals in critical condition and the others were listed in stable condition. He also said five firefighters were treated and taken to hospitals in stable condition.

In an update posted after officials spoke to reporters, the department said four people were killed and two others remained in critical condition.

Bonsignore said the three victims initially confirmed dead were two adults and one child. Officials did not immediately provide details about the fourth person who died.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city was mourning the loss of four New Yorkers. Fire marshals are investigating the cause of the fire.

“We’re mourning the loss of four New Yorkers after today’s devastating four-alarm fire in Flushing,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a post. “My heart is with their families, loved ones and every neighbor impacted.”