Massive fire at NYPD evidence warehouse (VIDEOS)

A three-alarm fire broke out at the New York Police Department’s Evidence Control & Impound warehouse in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, police confirmed on Tuesday. 

Over 140 firefighters were reportedly on the scene at the Erie Basin Auto Pound warehouse on Columbia Street, two hours after the fire was first reported. An explosion triggered a partial collapse of the building, forcing some units to retreat, and FDNY officials told local media outlets that at least eight people were injured, including three firefighters, three EMS technicians, and two civilians. 

The blaze allegedly began on a storage shelf before spreading throughout the 8,000 square foot facility, which is one of five warehouses the NYPD uses for storing confiscated vehicles. Pieces of evidence considered too large to fit in “normal” storage areas are also reportedly kept there.

“DNA, things from past crimes, burglaries, you know, maybe shooting incidents, we have some biological evidence as well,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey told reporters at a press conference as the fire continued to burn on Tuesday afternoon. 

The massive plume of smoke was visible on Doppler radar, and footage posted to social media showed it could be seen from miles away in Manhattan and other parts of the city.

Officials told local media the inferno could burn for days and said that the extent of the damage would not be fully known until it was quenched.