Fire Destroys Broad Channel Home

By Katie McFadden

Just after 10 p.m., there was a mass response to a massive fire at a home in Broad Channel. Fortunately, no one was injured.

On Tuesday night, March 31, just after 10 p.m., FDNY, Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department and West Hamilton Beach Fire Department went rushing up Cross Bay Blvd. to respond to a roaring inferno at 35 Van Brunt Road. The blaze could be seen from across the bay in Rockaway and from Ozone Park. According to the FDNY, 63 units and 192 firefighters and EMS personnel responded to the scene. The first units arrived within four minutes of the call and immediately got to work on the three-alarm fire. “First-arriving units immediately went to work to bring the fire under control,” FDNY Deputy Chief Daniel Tarter said. The FDNY Marine Unit also responded to tackle the fire from the water.

The unique home sits on stilts on Jamaica Bay and is located near Adrienne’s restaurant. According to the BCVFD, everyone got out safely. “There were no reported injuries from our personnel and thankfully the occupants were able to evacuate prior to the arrival of the fire companies,” the BCVFD shared.

Broad Channel resident, Dan Guarino, described the scene saying, “I had never seen a building so completely engulfed in flames. Everything on fire all the way through. From top to bottom you could see fire just completely shooting up through the structure. You see right inside and see the flames shooting up. Another friend told me earlier that the flames were just shooting out the windows. A friend who lives down the block told me that earlier, thick embers were flying everywhere. They also reported a thick smoke smell early on. I saw the FDNY hosing down the neighboring houses to keep them from catching fire.” An eastern wind kept the fire away from Adrienne’s”

Guarino added, “I know the owner, JR Tubridy. Thankfully, apparently, he and his family were not inside. It was reported that they were situated safely across the road while firefighters fought the blaze.” However, the home is a total loss.

According to the FDNY, firefighters operated for approximately two hours before placing the fire under control. Its cause is under investigation.

This fire comes after another fire destroyed a Vietnam veteran’s home on the other end of Broad Channel on March 19.

 Photos by Dan Guarino and Kevin York.