11/11/26 Brooklyn 4th Alarm 10-60 Box 3741

City records for 1321 Flatbush Avenue and the lot beside it, 2625 Bedford Avenue (the excavation):

1321 Flatbush: 3 stories, built 1930, a store with 4 apartments above. DOB has no structural complaints or violations on file for it before 11/11/26.

2625 Bedford, next door:
3/13/26 - DOB permit to demolish the one-story building on the lot.
3/20/26 - Class 1 violation: demolition had started without the required overhead protection for the adjacent properties at exposures 2, 3 and 4. Work was ordered stopped.
4/23/26 - Class 1 violation for continuing the demolition under the stop work order ($10,000 penalty). Both violations were later resolved and the order lifted.
6/8/26 - Demolition signed off.
9/9/26 - Permits issued for earth work, foundation and support of excavation, for a new building.
11/11/26 - DOB opened complaints for structural stability at 1321, 1323 and 1325 Flatbush and at 2625 Bedford, plus one at 2625 Bedford for work contrary to approved plans. All are still open.

None of this says what caused the collapse. That is for DOB's investigation.
 
From what Retired Deputy Chief Vincent Dunn Div. 3 states the most likely was a "Tilt Over Collapse" at first. I agree with my old boss. When a building is removed that was attached directly to a building next to it, you have the following problems.
#1 The strutting effect of building removed is no longer there. Buildings in a Row help to support each other. Take one building away and the collapse danger increases.
#2 The Bricks used inbetween attached building are call "Salmon bricks" they are not designed to be exposed to the weather like the "Face Bricks" unsed on wall facing the weather. Salmon bricks are not fired to the same temprature as "Face Bricks" so "Salmon Bricks avbsorb water like porious rocks. When the water absorbed by the "Salmon Brick" freezes the brick and the wall are damaged and the strength of the brick is greafty reduced and that former protected non weather brick wall can fail.
#3 Bricks wall have great strength when weight is placed straight down but have little strength when pushed sideways or taking a load sideways.
#4 If the brick wall leans or bulges outward and it is a bearing wall, like the side wall of this building the whole building will likely collapse.
I had a similar collapse years ago when I was a Lieutenant in TL-21. That Collapse was on 31 St. near 7th Ave. in Manhattan and killed 3 people.
Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired
 
Skyler Fire said:
Not sure I just know they were asked who had transits
Click to expand...
The FDNY was looking specifically for digital transits. Several Westchester departments were asked (NRFD, Yonkers, Greenville, White Plains and Westchester DES) however no one had one available. I know of several departments that have manual ones however that’s not what was requested.
 
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