4 injured in Claremont 3-alarm fire, including 2 firefighters

Dozens of people were forced to evacuate just before 8:30 a.m. Monday after flames erupted at 1420 Clay Ave on the top floor between the ceiling and the roof.

Jodi-Juliana Powell, Zoe Cosgrove and Brittany Cadet

Nov 3, 2025, 10:44 PM

Updated 4 hr ago

Share:

The FDNY says a three-alarm fire in Claremont sent three people to the hospital, including a seriously injured firefighter.
Dozens of people were forced to evacuate just before 8:30 a.m. Monday after flames erupted at 1420 Clay Ave. on the top floor between the ceiling and the roof.
After the fire was under control, News 12 cameras captured the seriously injured firefighter on the pavement, seizing and coughing up blood after a mayday call came in. The FDNY says he fell off the firetruck while putting away equipment. He was taken to the hospital, where he is expected to be released Monday evening.
Another firefighter and a resident are recovering in the hospital from smoke inhalation injuries. EMS treated a fourth injured person, a resident, on scene.
The Red Cross says it is assisting 40 households, including 21 children and 94 adults.
News 12 saw residents of the sixth floor, where the windows are blown out, carrying out garbage bags full of whatever they could salvage.
Late Monday, a crew arrived with wooden planks to board up the roof and windows damaged in the fire.
Hours after the flames were put out, residents were seen leaving the building with suitcases.
One woman who lives on the sixth floor where the fire started said off camera that she was taking what she could salvage, before leaving to stay elsewhere for the night.
According to the FDNY, the fire began on the top floor and spread to the space between the ceiling and the roof.
“The roof they said is pretty much falling apart,” said resident Sabrina Robinson, whose mother lives on the fourth floor and had to be rescued during the fire.
“The steps are full of water, so I had to get the fire department to bring her down the stairs,” Robinson said.
Robinson told News 12 the building has a history of neglect, with the elevator out of service for more than three months. She believes ongoing maintenance issues may have contributed to the fire.
“Due to this slumlord,” she said, adding that repairs are rarely addressed. “No one knows who management is.”