TWENTY NYC firefighters injured - three of them seriously - while battling huge Staten Island blaze

Twenty New York City firefighters have been injured, three seriously, while battling a massive blaze at a home in Staten Island.

The fire broke out at a home in the Arden Heights area of the borough on Shotwell Avenue.

The injuries occurred when part of the burning building suddenly collapsed at around 1:26pm on Friday, raining debris on top of the rescuers.

Thick, black smoke could be seen rising from the site with locals posting video footage to social media at the Citizen app. 

Firefighters initially attempted to get into the homes at 88 and 84 Shotwell Avenue but were forced back by the flames as the structure gave way.

Huge flames could be seen at the site of the house fire before fire crews were on scene

Thick black smoke could be seen billowing across the neighborhood on Friday night

NYC Firefighters battle a house fire along Shotwell Avenue in the Staten Island borough of New York

Dozens of firefighters respond to a 4-alarm residential fire in Staten Island on Friday

Twenty firefighters were injured, at least three seriously, in the afternoon blaze

Firefighters could be seen throwing out flammable material from the burning home

Thick smoke could be seen billowing out from the wooden homes 

Dozens of firefighters were on scene as they attempted to battle the blaze

The FDNY updated the progress of the situation on social media

Firefighters were not trapped in the actual collapse but appeared to be caught by the fire itself. 

All of the injured firefighters were accounted for and pulled out of the building.

Three were taken to Staten Island University Hospital North with severe injuries with the remaining 17 were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. 

It took almost one hour for the fire to be brought under control.

By 2:30pm there were still hot spots in the collapsed rubble. 

lnvestigators are now working to determine the cause of the fire. 

New York City Councilman Joe Borelli, who represents parts of Staten Island, told PIX11 that preliminary reports indicated the firefighters were expected to survive. 

Other residents watched on transfixed as thick black smoke wafter across the neighborhood

Locals captured the drama on their cellphones as they drove close to the blaze

Houses in the foreground are dwarfed by the enormous cloud of smoke that could be seen rising

Fire crews could be seen removing damaged material from the homes

Fire crews used huge ladders to access the home and pour water on the flames

Smoke smothered the buildings that were on fire making it difficult to see

One of 20 injured firefighters is taken to an ambulance as dozens of firefighters respond to a 4-alarm

Residents watch as dozens of firefighters responded to Staten Island blaze

More than 200 firefighters responded to the emergency on Friday afternoon 

At a press conference just before 4:30pm on Friday afternon at the scene of the fire, FDNY Chief Brian Gorman said it was still unclear how the fire started. 

Gorman explained how the FDNY received a call just before 1:30pm with firefighters discovering a 'heavy fire' in the rear of the building, Gorman said.

Over 200 firefighters and paramedics responded.

'Members quickly became trapped,' Gorman said. 'We had one firefighter come out the front window. We had one firefighter, a lieutenant, who was rescued on the second floor of 84.'

Gorman did not say if any civilians were hurt in the fire.

Fabien Levy, Mayor Eric Adams' press secretary, said the mayor was on his way to Staten Island North hospital on Friday afternoon to visit some of the injured firefighters.

Firefighters climb up a ladder into one of the burning buildings 

Little of the street could be seen as it slowly became shrouded in fog

Residents looked on in horror as firefighters arrived on scene to tackle the blaze

Residents from nearby homes took photos and video of the blaze

A line of fire trucks parked along Woodrow Road as New York Firefighters battle a house fire

The area was cordoned off while firefighters battled the blaze on Friday afternoon 

The fire that brought the partial collapse of one of the structures