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An encampment under the Travel Inn caught fire Saturday evening, sending dozens of fire trucks racing to the area as firefighters evacuated over 100 people from the hotel and train tracks beneath.
The blaze broke out at 5:32pm on Saturday, three levels below the hotel on W42nd Street and 10th Avenue — which was converted into temporary shelter for homeless New Yorkers at the height of the pandemic — and about 25 feet above the Amtrak train tracks that run under the building. Witnesses in the area reported seeing smoke rising from the Travel Inn building as 25 units and 106 firefighters were dispatched to the two-alarm blaze.
Officials coordinated with the regional rail company to suspend trains from the area and cut power to the tracks as firefighters worked to put out the blaze. According to the FDNY, three firefighters and two civilians were injured in the incident. They were taken to Roosevelt Hospital and are expected to recover.
FDNY officials told W42ST that the fire was put out by 8:13pm and that the cause remained under investigation. This is a developing story and we will update it if further details become available.
Except for a small sign taped to the front door that said “Hotel Closed”, there is no indication of fire damage.
People are squatting everywhere.
The illustration by Tanager George is fantastic. Very recent and great detail!