Fire in Jackson Heights

A fire has broken out in a commercial building in Jackson Heights of Queens in New York City, leaving a firefighter and a minor injured, reports the Daily News.

Jackson Heights is a neighbourhood where many Bangladeshis live.

The blaze started on the third floor of a four-storey building at 6:11 pm (New York local time) on Monday and it took firefighters more than five hours to extinguish the blaze, said Fire Department officials.

It was not yet known whether any Bangladeshi was injured in the fire.

A firefighter was treated at the scene for minor injuries, and a minor was taken to an area hospital.

The entire second floor of the building, which houses Armondo’s Italian Restaurant, as well as health care offices — was charred by flames.

“I heard a loud explosion, like a bomb going off. Glass shattered, it was all over the sidewalk,” said Iris Acosta, 71, who was walking by the building at the time.

“I already felt the heat of the flames. My first thought was to get out of the way.”

Firefighters have prevented the flames from spreading to neighbouring buildings. Utility workers shut off the gas supply to the building.