A man is in critical condition after firefighters rescued him from a burning East New York building early Tuesday.
Firefighters from Tower Ladder 107 responded to a call at 490 Atkins Ave. just after 6 am on Sept. 7 to find the man unconscious and unresponsive on the second floor of the three-story, mixed-use building off of Hegeman Avenue.
Units dealt with heavy smoke throughout the bodega beneath the man’s apartment, Atkins Minimarket, as well as the adjoining laundromat. Firefighters were forced to break the dwelling’s windows to ventilate smoke from the building, all the while using two hose lines to tackle the blaze.
Officials say the man was transported to Brookdale Hospital in critical condition, while an injured firefighter refused medical attention at the scene. Searches for other trapped or injured residents came up negative.
The fire was placed under control within the hour at 6:53 am.