Some of the same companies that had operated at Remsen St. were on the front lines at 5th & Baltic, too—Battalion Chief Cuccurullo of Battalion 31 and Deputy Chief Mandala of Division 11 assumed command of both fires—including Tower Ladder 105, whose members went to work venting the building’s windows from the exterior. Before long, the roof collapsed and fire was blowing out of nine windows in the front, side, and rear of the structure. The Lieutenant of Engine 219 had his helmet knocked off his head, but he escaped injury.

What appeared to be cracks in the building’s walls caused fear of an imminent collapse, but it proved to be only in the brickface facade, and did not affect the actual structural stability.

It was almost two hours before the incident was declared under control. The B63 bus, naturally, had to be re-routed for a few blocks. Fire Marshals are investigating what caused the fire, and the Board of Health responded to handle the Chinese restaurant on the ground floor, while Red Cross representatives tended to the needs of displaced residents.

I have lots of photos, but want to wait to see what, if anything, the Daily News or the Eagle run of mine before I post a link.

It is VERY unusual for FDNY incident commanders to not transmit a second alarm when fire is blowing out of several (in this case, at least NINE windows) — let alone when the roof collapses.

In both cases, the “brothers” did a swell job.