by strong gusts of wind tore into a row of wood-frame houses in the Bronx, leaving scores homeless and 25 people, mostly firefighters, briefly hospitalized, authorities said.
The fire started at 4:22 a.m yesterday on the first floor of 509 Concord Ave. in Melrose. It quickly spread to four attached houses, fire officials said. When the blaze was under control nearly two and half hours later at 6:50 a.m., two of those houses had been destroyed by the flames. All of the residents in the five buildings were evacuated, officials said. "The wind was a factor to spread the fire quickly," said Fire Chief Robert Lennon, of the 26th Battalion. More than 200 firefighters battled the fire, and 22 were treated for minor burns and other injuries. Three residents were also taken to Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center for minor injuries, officials said. The cause of the fire remained under investigation yesterday.
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