At least 30 Satmar hasidim are homeless tonight after fire ravaged their
multi-family condominium at 6 Premishlan Way in Kiryas Joel this
afternoon. More than 75 firefighters from seven area fire companies worked in the
frigid cold to try to put out the five-alarm fire, which started at
approximately 1:30 pm.
At Least 30 Homeless In Kiryas Joel Fire
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
At least 30 Satmar hasidim are homeless tonight after fire ravaged their multi-family condominium at 6 Premishlan Way in Kiryas Joel this afternoon.
More than 75 firefighters from seven area fire companies reportedly worked in the frigid cold to try to put out the five-alarm fire, which started at approximately 1:30 pm.
Several empty Kiryas Joel school buses with heat turned on high were brought to the scene for firefighters to use to warm up and de-ice.
“It looked like an electrical fire, but it's not confirmed,” Chief Joshua Blumenthal of the Kiryas Joel Fire Department told the Times Herald-Record.
Six families lived in the building, which was built in 2005. Five escaped unharmed. The sixth family was out of the country when the fire happened.
No firefighters were injured fighting the blaze.
Kiryas Joel’s Public Safety Department head Moses Witriol said the fire was devastating for the families.
“They lost everything,” he said. He also told the paper that volunteers were working to get each family food and clothing, and said each family already had a place to sleep for tonight.
At about 5:30 pm the fire was still burning.