Fire Breaks Out in Crown Heights Apartment Building

Firefighters battled a fire that broke out on Tuesday afternoon at 556 Crown St., an apartment building that houses Machon Chana and a number of shuls. No injuries were reported, but at least one shul sustained damage.

Firefighters battled a fire that broke out on Tuesday afternoon at 556 Crown St., an apartment building that houses Machon Chana and a number of shuls.

The fire was reported at approximately 1:20 PM, and fire trucks rushed to the scene, closing off Albany Ave. and Crown St.

Firefighters located a fire on the 4th floor of the building, and later advised the fire appears to have spread from the basement and they are continuing to search and investigate.

At 2:10, the FDNY tweeted that the fire was under control.

According to preliminary reports received by Anash.org, the Benoni Shul, which is housed on the building’s first floor, sustained damage in the fire. The Machon Chana kitchen also sustained damage.

Rabbi Lazer Avtzon, rov of the Merkaz Sefarad shul, which also hosted in the building, told Anash.org that Merkaz Seferd did not sustain any damage in the fire. He said that he transferred the Sifrei Torah from the Benoni Shul to Merkaz Sefard for safekeeping, and that the seforim were being covered to protect from water damage.