A two-alarm fire in Bushwick injured several people and left three families homeless on Tuesday, FDNY officials said.
The blaze broke out shortly after 7 am on the first floor of a multi-family home on Greene Avenue between Bushwick Avenue and Broadway, before spreading to the second and third floors of the building — sending a plume of black smoke billowing upward.
Firefighters rushed to the scene and worked to quell the blaze before it reached the roof or neighboring houses, said one witness.
“I noticed heavy black smoke coming from the first floor rear,” said next door neighbor Priscilla Hernandez. “Firefighters arrived and started breaking windows. I was scared — I thought it was going to spread to my house.”
Two-Alarm Fire in Apartment Building @CitizenApp
1059 Greene Ave Yesterday 7:03:18 AM EST
At one point during the rescue, a fire hose connection blew out, stopping water from reaching the firefighters inside and spraying other first responders outside the building. Once the connection was restored, smoke eaters managed to get the fire under control in just under an hour, officials said.
“I’ve never seen anything like this on this block. Firefighters put the fire out quickly,” said neighbor Corrine Stevens. “It was interesting to see them work so quickly.”
Paramedics treated the victims on the scene for smoke inhalation, and none of the injuries were considered serious.
The building, however, sustained heavy damage during the fire — leaving three families temporarily homeless, authorities said.
Fire marshals are still investigating the cause of the fire.
This article first appeared on amNewYork.
