Williamsburg Fire Leaves Dozens Homeless, Local Pharmacy Destroyed

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A devastating fire ripped through three Williamsburg buildings late Saturday night, displacing nearly a dozen families and causing significant damage to several businesses. The blaze, which required a four-alarm response, broke out around 10:30 p.m. at the intersection of Graham and Metropolitan avenues, directly above an L train subway entrance.

Neighborhood Institution Lost

Among the hardest hit was City Chemist, a pharmacy described by neighbors as a neighborhood institution that had served the community for decades. The fire's impact on local residents and businesses is profound. One neighbor, Betsy Todd, expressed her shock and sadness, stating, "It's just horrendous, to see the families displaced... this pharmacy on the corner that has been here for decades...It's a neighborhood institution."

Extent of the Damage

The fire spread rapidly to two adjacent buildings, rendering all three uninhabitable. The L train entrance beneath the fire's origin point was temporarily closed. Fortunately, injuries were minor, with one building occupant and three firefighters reporting minor injuries. The FDNY deployed around 200 firefighters and EMS personnel to bring the blaze under control by 1:30 a.m. Investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the fire.