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200 Firefighters Battle Massive Inferno in Greenpoint Lumberyard

By Tanay Warerkar | January 4, 2014 12:59pm | Updated on January 4, 2014 4:38pm
 A Greenpoint lumberyard burned for five hours while firefighters fought the bitter cold and heavy winds to put it out.
Greenpoint lumberyard fire
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BROOKLYN — More than 200 firefighters spent over five hours in the stinging cold and howling winds early Saturday morning to bring a massive Greenpoint lumberyard fire under control, officials said.

“The frigid weather and the cold winds played against us last night and made the operation much harder,” FDNY Deputy Chief James Campbell, of Division 11, said. “The severe amount of stock in the lumberyard also made it hard to get the fire under control.”

There were no injuries in the five-alarm blaze, Campbell said, but firefighters rescued two dogs from the building’s yard shortly after arriving on the scene.

The FDNY got the call at 12.30 a.m. that a fire that broke out at Marley Building Supply, located at 858 Meeker Ave. near Varick Street.

The cause of the blaze is as yet unknown, according to fire officials, but fire marshals continue to investigate the incident.

Neighbors expressed shock and sympathy for the owners of the lumberyard.

“It’s been a long time since an incident like this has happened in the area,” said Vincent Parlapiano, 57, the owner of John’s Truck Lots at 817 Meeker Ave, who has worked in the area for over 40 years and heard about the fire on the radio early Saturday morning.

“The people who owned the lumberyard were great neighbors.T hey were real hard workers. They’re strong and I’m confidant they’ll rebuild.”

The deputy chief said he expects firefighters to continue working on the scene at least until early Sunday morning to take care of the situation.