1 person critically hurt after firefighters rescue more than a dozen from Williamsburg fire

More than a dozen people were rescued from a fire in Brooklyn on Monday morning. Among them, a 71-year-old woman remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Many neighbors in Williamsburg watched closely as firefighters worked to make sure the fire at a four-story building on Penn Street was under control.

Jonnathan Lopoz said he made the 911 call after seeing the flames and smoke on his way to work.

"I was trying to stop the cars. There were cars passing by to help me out, but nobody stopped," Lopoz said.

He said he rushed over to try to help and heard people screaming.

"They were breaking the glass. People start breaking the glass from third floor, fourth floor to escape from the fire," Lopoz said. "I kick the door and I saw the flames coming out. Immediately I called 911 to help the people out."

The FDNY was called around 6:40 a.m. and said firefighters got to the scene in about three minutes. More than 100 responded to the heavy fire, which took about an hour to get under control.

The FDNY said the most difficult part was trying to get 17 people out while the fire was still burning.

"This was a very arduous process where units had to ... firefighters had to risk their lives while the active fire was burning and rescue 17 people. Many of the people were taken out from the interior. Others were taken out by portable ladder and by tower ladder out of the building," Deputy Assistant Chief John Sarrocco said.

"One of the patients was critical, was immediately transported to the hospital by Hatzolah volunteers. We were lucky in that we were about a half a block from one of Hatzolah's quarters, so we had plenty of help on the outset," Deputy Assistant Chief Fred Villani said.

In addition to the 71-year-old woman in critical condition, CBS2 was told three people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Others were treated at the scene.

The focus for the FDNY now is figuring out the cause of the blaze.

Firefighters rescued more than a dozen people from a fire Monday in Brooklyn. 

One person is still in critical condition at the hospital. 

The FDNY said the most difficult part was trying to get 17 people out while the fire was still burning. 

It happened at a building on Penn Street and is now under control. 

CBS2's Jenna DeAngelis spoke with a witness who said he saw the flames, heard people screaming and tried to help.

"People start breaking the glass from the third floor, fourth floor, from the back to escape from the fire," witness Jonnantan Lopez told CBS2's Jenna DeAngelis. 

Lopez works near the building where the fire broke out and rushed right over.

"I saw the fire coming out, at first it was smoke, black smoke from the house, and from there I saw a little kitchen, the door. I kick it, I kick the door and I saw the flames coming out. Immediately, I called 911 to help the people out," he said. 

The FDNY said it received a call just before 6:40 a.m. and got to the scene in about three minutes, arriving to a heavy fire in the four-story building. 

The fire quickly escalated to a second alarm, with more than 100 firefighters responding, getting the fire under control in about an hour. 

"The units stretched multiple hose lines to put the fire out. This was a very arduous process where firefighters had to risk their lives while this active fire was burning and rescue 17 people," said FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief John Sarrocco. 

The FDNY said one person was rushed to Brooklyn Hospital in critical condition. Three were taken to NYU Hospital with minor injuries. The others were treated on scene by EMS. 

The FDNY said it had help from volunteer services. 

"One of the patients was critical, was immediately transported to the hospital by hatzolah volunteers. We were lucky in that we were about a half a block away from one of hatzolah's quarters, so we had plenty of help at the onset," FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Fred Villani said. 

We're still waiting to learn more from the FDNY on how the patient is doing. The focus on the scene remains figuring out the cause of the fire. 

The FDNY says 17 people were treated for injuries after the fire. 

One person was taken to Brooklyn Hospital and is in critical condition. 

Three other people were taken to NYU Hospital with minor injuries. 

The remaining people were treated on the scene by EMS. 

Fire officials say more than a dozen people were hurt in the blaze. 

One person is hospitalized in critical condition. 

Sixteen others were treated for minor injuries. 

So far, there's no word on what caused the fire.