#artist-studios

#artist-studios

Some of us lost a whole lifetime of work. It's not something you can just replace. I don't have the words for the feeling because I'm still in such shock. It doesn't really feel like it's happened yet.

A fire ripped through a 19th-century warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn, late Wednesday, collapsing parts of the building and wiping out dozens of artist studios ahead of a major neighborhood open studios weekend. Reports say the blaze began around 11:35pm at 481 Van Brunt Street, near the waterfront. Flames quickly spread through the four-story structure, forcing firefighters to pull back and attack the blaze from outside.

The blaze broke out at 481 Van Brunt St., which houses dozens of artist studios and small businesses, at around 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 17, officials said. Flames quickly engulfed the top floors of the building and spread to the roof, forcing firefighters to evacuate. This type of construction is called heavy timber, it's all wood so, once these structural members start going, the fire takes over rather quickly, said FDNY Assistant Deputy Chief Kevin Woods.