A car sporting an official NYPD placard issued to cops blatantly blocked a fire hydrant yesterday in The Bronx — as a blaze broke out in the apartment building directly in front of it.
Instead of being able to hook up their hoses to the hydrant, frustrated firefighters had to rely on handheld fire extinguishers to put out the kitchen blaze that broke out on the top floor of a six-story building at 206 East 198th Street in Fordham.
About 60 firefighters arrived at 11:46 a.m. and had the blaze out around noon, fire officials said.
Four young children were taken to a local hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.
Richard Blatus, an acting FDNY deputy chief, said it was unclear whether the 1998 White Volvo blocking the hydrant belonged to a cop. But another fire official at the scene told The Post it was an unmarked police vehicle.
The vehicle displayed parking credentials for Queens’ narcotics bureau.
A Post photographer trying to take a picture of the placard was forced to move away by cops.
They ticketed the car, which was then towed. But hours later, a man who answered the phone at the pound said the car was moved to the 52nd Precinct.
Residents in the building were furious.
“Why would you leave your car where people need to get water in case of an emergency?” said Dorothy Lemon.
“If it was an off-duty cop, he should have known better,” said a tenant who gave only his first name, James.