Red Hook Warehouse Fire at 481 Van Brunt St: Resources for Affected Artists and Businesses

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Sep 29

Written By Graber 2024

On the night of September 17, 2025, a five-alarm fire broke out at 481 Van Brunt Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The blaze tore through the historic Beard & Robinson warehouse complex, a 19th-century heavy-timber structure that once served the Erie Basin shipping industry. More than 250 FDNY personnel responded, using land units and marine fireboats to bring the fire under control. Parts of the roof and upper floors collapsed, and the site remains under investigation and structural review.

The fire displaced dozens of artists, makers, and small businesses who worked out of the warehouses. This blog aims to increase visibility for those affected and centralize resources, verified fundraisers, and support programs that you can support.

What happened at the Beard Street Warehouse?

The warehouses at 481 Van Brunt are part of Red Hook’s industrial waterfront history. Known as the Beard & Robinson Stores, they were built in the mid-1800s as part of William Beard’s Erie Basin development. The timber-frame construction, typical of 19th-century port facilities, contributed to how quickly the blaze spread once it ignited. Today, these buildings had been repurposed as studios, workshops, and gallery spaces for artists and creative businesses.

Relief Efforts and Fundraisers

Here are verified GoFundMe campaigns and collective funds created in response to the fire. You can contribute by donating and/ or sharing to your network.

Help Red Hook Artists and Businesses Rebuild After Fire — a general relief campaign organized via the Red Hook Business Alliance to support multiple affected tenants.
Support Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition — fundraising to help BWAC recover its gallery and programming.
Help Megan Rebuild Hot Wood Arts — relief for Hot Wood Arts founder and community studio.
Support Recording Studio After th e Red Hook Fire — fundraiser for Francis Garcia’s music studio and equipment.
Help Restore Artworks Lost in Red Hook Fire — organized by artist Dean Erdmann to remake or restore lost works.
AINT WET: Red Hook Fire Relief — relief for workspace General Waste and collaborators.
Help Five Red Hook Artists Rebuild After Fire — collective fundraiser for a group of five displaced artists.
Piano Replacement or Repair Costs from Red Hook Fire — relief for a musician whose instrument was likely affected.
Help Lanoba rebuild after the Red Hook fire — the owners are raising funds rebuild their workshop, replace equipment, and continue serving the neighborhood
Support Token And Founders Will and Nicole After Studio Fire — help them begin to stabilize after this loss, covering immediate needs, supporting their team, replacing equipment and materials
Help after massive Artist Studios fire — Inna Babaeva lost all of their equipment, materials, and over 200 completed hand-blown glass and other material sculptures.
Resolution AV Rebuild Fund — Please donate or make a purchase from Resolution A/V.
Help Claudia & Pedro rebuild after the massive Red Hook fire — loss of equipment, materials, and decades of irreplaceable artwork and archives including 2 flat files full of prints and photo negatives spanning more than 15 years
Support Eric Eyeball Richardson after the Red Hook Fire — Eric Richardson (more affectionately known as Eyeball), had just staged an exhibition with years of his life's work.
NY Printing & Graphics: Red Hook Relief — this woman-owned business lots their home of over 20 years.

For ongoing updates on campaigns, check the Red Hook Business Alliance, which has been coordinating support.

Resources for Affected Artists and Businesses

In addition to community fundraisers, several nonprofit and institutional programs offer emergency support:

NYFA Emergency Grants — short-term grants for artists facing sudden hardship.
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants — supports visual and performing artists with urgent expenses.
Brooklyn Arts Council Emergency Funds — resources for artists affected by disasters or crises.
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs — city-run cultural development programs that may provide organizational support.
NYC Small Business Services — business recovery programs and guidance for small businesses facing disruption.
Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants — for artists dealing with health-related emergencies following unexpected events.
Chashama Artist Emergency Relief — small emergency grants for NYC artists in urgent need.

Stay Informed

For verified updates and reporting, follow these outlets:

Donate, share, & more ways to support.

The Beard Street warehouse fire represents a significant loss for Red Hook’s cultural and small business community. But as relief campaigns and nonprofit resources mobilize, there are many ways to support the artists and businesses affected.