Blaze breaks out at abandoned property on 83rd Street

An all-hands fire caused firefighters to rip through an abandoned Ridge home on Monday, September 14 at around 3:20 p.m.

According to an FDNY representative on the scene, it looked like the fire began inside of a truck parked next to the vacant home, located at 245 83^rd Street, and “extended to the building.”

“I don’t know if the kids did it but there are constantly kids in there and riff raff going on,” said neighbor Danielle Basso. “We’re used to chasing them out. I just came home and chased two kids out and then, not two minutes later, the truck was on fire.”

According to Basso, the disturbances from trespassers are an “ongoing problem” in the house that has been vacant for about eight years.

The three-story building, owned by a Gamal Hasan according to city records, has been issued a total of 26 New York City Department of Buildings violations since 2008. Currently, the premises has five open (or non-compliance) violations and one pending Environmental Control Board Hearing scheduled for October regarding an inadequate fencing violation.

Basso said that while some local elected officials have been helpful about trying to get the owner to “do something,” she is hoping this will be the push to move things along faster.

According to the FDNY, the fire was under control at approximately 3:55 p.m.