TWENTY NYC firefighters were injured — three of them seriously — while battling the massive Staten Island fire

Twenty New York City firefighters were injured, three seriously, while battling a massive blaze at a Staten Island home.

The fire broke out at a home in the Arden Heights neighborhood on Shotwell Avenue.

The injuries occurred when part of the burning building suddenly collapsed around 1:26 p.m. Friday, raining debris on rescuers.

Thick black smoke could be seen from the website and locals posted footage on the Citizen app’s social media.

Firefighters initially attempted to enter the homes at 88 and 84 Shotwell Avenue, but were pushed back by the flames as the building gave way.

Even before the fire brigade was on site, huge flames could be seen at the site of the house fire

Thick black smoke could be seen in the neighborhood on Friday night

NYC firefighters battle a house fire along Shotwell Avenue in the Staten Island borough of New York

Dozens of firefighters respond to a 4-alarm residential fire in Staten Island on Friday

Twenty firefighters were injured in the afternoon fire, at least three of them seriously

Firefighters were seen throwing combustible material out of the burning house

Thick smoke billowed from the wooden houses

Dozens of firefighters were at the scene trying to fight the blaze

The FDNY has updated the progress of the situation on social media

All injured firefighters were caught and dragged out of the building.

Three were taken to Staten Island University Hospital North with serious injuries, and the remaining 17 were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

It took almost an hour for the fire to be brought under control.

At 2:30 p.m., there were still hot spots in the collapsed rubble.

A line of fire engines parked along Woodrow Road as New York City firefighters tackle a house fire

The area was cordoned off while firefighters battled the blaze on Friday afternoon

The fire that led to the partial collapse of one of the buildings

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk