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| Photos: brooklynheightsblog.com |
On Aug. 26, 1995, flames destroyed a vacant section of the St. George Hotel in Brooklyn - one of the biggest fires in New York City history.
More than 50 engine companies and 27 ladder companies responded - the equivalent of a 16-alarm blaze.
At the time of the blaze, the hotel consisted of nine buildings constructed between 1885 and 1933 and connected by basements.
Flames raced through shafts from the top down of the 10-story vacant section, extending to all floors and all exposures.
Aggravating the situation, the standpipe system had been vandalized.
Writing in Fire Engineering, Steven DeRosa, deputy assistant chief, described the scene: `` Huge embers the size of baseballs were rising over the fire area and falling into the street and onto roofs in the neighborhood. Hoselines were burned. The radiant heat was intense. ''
The initial alarm, from Box 77-461, was transmitted at 3:33 a.m. for Engines 224, 207 and 226, Ladders 118 and 110 and Battalion 31.
The blaze was declared under control at 7:05 a.m.
Investigators charged a man scavenging for copper with starting the fire.
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