Five-Story Chelsea Building Gutted by Early Morning Fire
The abandoned building, reportedly owned by an absentee landlord, has long been an eyesore on Seventh Avenue and 22nd Street.
| 13 Apr 2026 | 12:29
The once five -story building at 210 Seventh Ave. has been abandoned for about two decades. On April 12, it was gutted by a three-alarm blaze that took nearly 200 firefighters and EMS personnel two hours to bring under control. (
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A three-alarm fire early Sunday gutted the building at 210 Seventh Ave., at W. 22nd St.
The fire began around 6 a.m. on April 12, triggering a two-alarm response from the FDNY, and escalated to a third alarm by 6:24 a.m. Sixty-three units of the FDNY and EMS responded to the fire, which was under control about two hours later. Four firefighters suffered minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
The smell of smoke infiltrated the neighborhood, and another building, at 208 W. 22nd St., suffered structural damage to the roof and upper floors, due to a falling chimney at 210 Seventh Ave. The W. 22nd St. building also experienced water damage.
Sam’s Deli, a nearby business, was not affected by the fire.
The area near W. 22nd St. remained closed to traffic through 4 p.m. on Sunday.
The building at 210 Seventh Ave. has remained all but abandoned, and some say in dangerous disrepair, for more than 20 years. The owner, Erroll Rainess, could not be reached for comment.
“The fire at 210 Seventh Avenue this morning is a stark reminder of the risks posed by long-neglected buildings. I’m grateful to FDNY Engine 3, Ladder 12 for their swift response in bringing the situation under control. This property has been the subject of a long and frustrating saga, with an absentee owner allowing it to sit boarded up for years,” said New York State Sen. Erik Bottcher, who, during his time in the City Council, had been trying to preserve the neglected building.
The next step might include the city requiring Rainess to construct a scaffold around his property, according to one firefighter at the scene. If he does not comply, the city will construct a surrounding shed and send him the bill.
For now, the community and passersby are stopping to gawk at what remains of the charred structure. The artist who had created the whimsical pink, black and white Chelsea mural on the building’s exterior with Rainess’ blessings, had permission from him to redo the mural and was in the midst of procuring funding to pay for paint and supplies to put a more beautiful bandage on the neighborhood eyesore.