A fire ripped through a 19th-century warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn, late Wednesday, collapsing parts of the building and wiping out dozens of artist studios ahead of a major neighborhood open studios weekend.
Reports say the blaze began around 11:35pm at 481 Van Brunt Street, near the waterfront. Flames quickly spread through the four-story structure, forcing firefighters to pull back and attack the blaze from outside. More than 250 FDNY members spent over seven hours bringing the fire under control, with aid from a fireboat.
The roof and fourth floor collapsed during the operation, officials said. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries. The cause remains under investigation.
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The warehouse, built in the 1870s, was home to a large artist cooperative as well as woodshops, furniture makers, and small businesses. Residents said the fire destroyed work that was being prepared for the annual Red Hook Open Studios event, scheduled in the coming weeks.
“We are easily 50 to 100 artists in this building,” illustrator Lewis Matheney told CBS News New York. “There are so many artists that are struggling financially right now, and this is literally their dreams going up in smoke.”
“This building was filled with artists and artisans,” local resident Tomas Anthony said to NBC, including neighbors who ran woodshops and motorcycle repair spaces.
The Red Hook Business Alliance called the losses “incredibly sad” at the start of the fall season, urging the city to support displaced artists and shop owners.
City officials asked residents to close windows due to smoke and warned of traffic disruptions in the area.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by the Red Hook Business Alliance is raising money to support displaced artists and small businesses, with proceeds intended to help restore the historic waterfront building and provide relief to those who lost work or equipment. Organizers said updates on specific needs and beneficiaries will be shared as more information becomes available.