NY firefighter struck by falling air conditioning unit after battling structure fire

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Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Firefighter stable after hit by falling air conditioner in NYC
CeFaan Kim reports a firefighter was struck by an air conditioner that apparently fell from the window of the 85th Street home Monday morning.

NEW YORK -- An air conditioning unit plunged onto the head of a firefighter after he battled a second alarm fire in Brooklyn, New York.

The firefighter was struck by the air conditioner, which apparently fell from the window of a second-story home on 85th Street in the Bensonhurst area sometime after 9 a.m. Monday.

Video of the incident was supplied by residents to firefighters conducting an investigation into the case.

FDNY members rushed to his aide after the firefighter was knocked unconscious.

He was taken to Lutheran Hospital, where he was stabilized. He is expected to survive.

The firefighter's helmet was cracked and sliced open by the AC unit.

Five other firefighters suffered minor injuries from fighting the blaze.

MORE: Video shows owner torching his own restaurant in NY, investigators say

Investigators say 54-year-old Asif Raja set the fire in several locations inside his restaurant, but the sprinkler system knocked the flames down.