A raging fire destroyed two homes in the Brooklyn neighborhood overnight, injuring several people who were sleeping when the flames engulfed their building in the middle of the night.
At least five individuals were injured, mainly due to smoke inhalation, after their Williamsburg building on Kingsland Avenue caught fire around 4 a.m. The fire was not limited to one structure; flames spread to the right and left of the two-story, multi-family property.
More than 130 firefighters and EMS personnel rushed to the 4-alarm fire as tenants scrambled to get out in time after waking up to dense black smoke.
Officials said the fire started in the back of one building before spreading to another next door.
“It went from a first to a third alarm in 10 minutes. We got a lot of units here quickly. It quickly spread both left and right,” FDNY Assistant Fire Chief Tom Currao told reporters, according to CBS news.
Videos capturing the fire’s intensity showed flames shooting from the building’s windows.
The Red Cross is assisting eight impacted households of 13 adults and one child, providing temporary shelter and financial assistance, as well as blankets, toiletries, water, and snacks.
The investigation continues into what sparked the massive fire.
