STATEN ISLAND — An accidental blaze inside a New Brighton home injured eight firefighters and left four families homeless, officials said.
The three-alarm blaze started at 82 Van Buren St. about 7 p.m. on Sunday and eventually spread to the neighboring 84 Van Buren St., a spokesman for the FDNY said.
The flames were under control at 8:32 p.m. The injuries to firefighters were minor, the department said, though seven of them were transported to area hospitals.
Fire marshals ruled the fire was accidental and caused by "careless use of open flame," the FDNY said.
Per #FDNY Fire Marshals: Cause of 1/29 3-alarm fire at 82 Van Buren St, #StatenIsland was accidental, careless use of open flame.
— FDNY (@FDNY) January 30, 2017
The Department of Buildings issued full vacate orders on both homes damaged by the blaze, according to DOB records.
The Red Cross responded and gave emergency housing to four families — six adults and nine children — that lived in the homes, according to the charity. It also provided food, water, blankets and money for clothing and food for the families.
The owner of 82 Van Buren St. has an outstanding $1,500 fine issued by the city in 2012 for doing a full interior rehab on the building without a permit, records show.
Firefighters also responded to a fire in Oakwood on Monday morning that injured one person, officials said.
It started on the first floor of the two-story apartment building at 372 Oak Ave. at about 5:41 a.m. and was under control by 6:26 a.m., the FDNY said.
One person was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries from the blaze, fire officials said.
