Even with the rain pouring down, fast moving flames engulfed this home on Howard Avenue on Staten Island early Sunday morning.

It took the fire department just four minutes to respond.

What You Need To Know

  • FDNY says the fire at a home on Howard Avenue started around Sunday 6 a.m.
  • When the FDNY arrive the home was engulfed in flames and collapsed shortly after

  • No one was inside at the time of the fire, but two firefighters did suffer minor injuries

“Upon arrival the house was fully involved in fire, with fire coming out of every window of the structure. We immediately went to an exterior operation with tower ladders,” explained FDNY Staten Island Borough Commander Kevin Woods.

The FDNY says shortly after they arrived there was a full collapse of the home, leaving just part of its brick frame standing. Everything else was reduced to rubble.

“There was nobody inside, the building was vacant, it was being worked on, we did speak to the owner and everyone is accounted for,” said Chief Woods.

Twenty-five units, totaling more than 120 firefighters responded to the three alarm blaze.

Two firefighters were taken to local hospitals for minor injuries but are expected to be okay.

“We used two tower ladders and three hand lines to extinguish this fire," said Chief Woods.

In under two hours, the fire was brought under control.

The rainy weather making battling the blaze all the more difficult.

“With the rain, you have to respond a little slower and you have to be careful with slips and falls,” explained Chief Woods.

Fire marshals are investigating what caused the fire.

The owner of the home said he was too anxious to talk, but could not believe what little was left of his home.