Flames started in the rear yard and punched into nearby apartments, officials said.
NEW YORK — City fire marshals on Thursday began examining debris at Santiago’s Beer Garden on First Avenue after a four-alarm fire burned through the outdoor space and reached an adjacent apartment building on Wed., Nov. 19, around 6 p.m., fire officials said.
The inquiry focuses on how flames in a rear courtyard turned into a fast vertical spread that damaged multiple floors next door and forced residents from a four-story building. Commanders said about 170 firefighters responded as alarms escalated. One person had minor injuries and declined transport. The beer garden was closed when the fire began. The department’s early review found windows failed under heat, allowing fire to push into apartments, a critical moment in the incident timeline that investigators are working to document with photos, statements and debris patterns.
The first 911 calls brought companies to 2337 First Ave., near East 120th Street, where crews found heavy fire in the yard behind the restaurant. A second alarm sounded within minutes, followed by third and fourth alarms to rotate personnel and protect exposures on both sides of the property line. “The windows gave way due to the extreme heat in the rear of the building and the fire entered through those windows,” Deputy Assistant Chief James Canty said in an evening briefing along the cordon. A nearby shop owner said she and others evacuated quickly as smoke deepened over the block.
Authorities said the neighboring residential building suffered smoke, water and fire damage across multiple floors. The number of displaced tenants was not immediately available. Utility crews cut service to stabilize the scene while fire marshals began interviews with witnesses, workers and nearby business owners. The owner of the restaurant said outdoor furniture and fixtures were destroyed and the interior faced heat and smoke damage. EMS reported a single minor injury and no hospital transports. Officials noted breezy conditions at the time but have not linked weather to cause.
Rear-yard restaurants are common across this stretch of East Harlem, where narrow lots and light wells can create chimney effects once flames reach window bays or shafts. Ladder companies used roof positions and tower ladders to direct streams into the yard, then moved inside for overhaul to stop hidden fire from traveling in voids. The response briefly closed parts of First Avenue between East 119th and East 120th streets and diverted evening bus service. By late evening, the main body of fire was knocked down and crews worked to ventilate residual smoke from upper floors.
Next steps include origin-and-cause analysis by fire marshals, building inspections to determine habitability, and Red Cross placement for displaced tenants. Officials said they expect preliminary findings on the area of origin after daylight examinations Thursday, with a more detailed report to follow once lab results and witness statements are compiled. No code violations or criminal allegations had been announced as of early Thursday. The restaurant’s owner said he will assess repairs after insurance and structural reviews are complete.
As dawn approached, hoses lay coiled at the curb and the block remained taped off while investigators photographed the yard and apartment windows. Tenants picked through belongings under escort, retrieving medicines and pet supplies. Officials said updates will come after morning inspections on Thu., Nov. 20.
Author note: Last updated November 20, 2025.