Yankees broadcaster John Sterling’s apartment complex hit by massive fire

by | Jan 21, 2015

A large fire swept through the Avalon at Edgewater apartment complex on Wednesday afternoon. Yankees play-by-play voice John Sterling was among hundreds of New Jersey residents that were left homeless by the flames—which reached 200 feet and could be seen clear across the Hudson River in Manhattan, according to NJ.com.

The fire reportedly began around 4:30 p.m. ET, and firefighters began battling it shortly afterward. As of 10:41 p.m. ET, flames were still “advancing.”

The photos really tell the story of what happened.

Sterling—who can be heard on WFAN, and has been calling games for the Yankees since 1989—spoke with the New York Daily News about the fire. He said he was returning to the building, attempting to board an elevator, when he noticed the smell of “intense smoke.”

“On one side of the building the elevators had already been shut down. I went to my elevators (at the back of the building) and tried walking in, but the smoke was so intense I said to myself, ‘John, you better get the hell out of here.’ So I just drove away.”

Sterling has since been moved into a hotel, according to Michael Kay of the YES Network, who also does play-by-play during Yankees games.

No injuries to civilians or firefighters have been reported at the present time.

UPDATE (11:37 p.m. ET): Here is what the apartment complex looked like as of 15 minutes ago, and it appears the fire has not been completely extinguished yet.

[NJ.com, New York Daily News]
[Photo credit: @FireNews]