Two hurt in St. John's Episcopal Hospital fire

St. John’s Episcopal Hospital caught fire on Friday, injuring two people. Screenshot via Citizen App

By Jacob Kaye

The roof of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway caught fire Friday afternoon, injuring at least two people.

The blaze broke out on the roof around 5:15 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 10, according to the FDNY. The fire was quickly upgraded to a second-alarm, prompting response from over 100 firefighters and EMS personnel.

Video posted online showed heavy black smoke billowing from the top of SJEH, which is the only hospital on the Rockaway peninsula.

It was brought under control around 7 p.m.

Two people inside the hospital sustained injuries, though the FDNY could not confirm their condition.

The hospital’s emergency room was shut down in the aftermath of the blaze and the two injured people were taken to other hospitals, according to the FDNY. The building did not lose power during the fire, the authorities said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, the FDNY said.

“As the only hospital on the Rockaway peninsula we are committed to continuing to provide quality healthcare to the Rockaway community,” a SJEH spokesperson said.

This story was updated at 2:36 p.m., on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.