At least 2 injured in fire at Yonkers apartment building
YONKERS, N.Y. -- At least two people were injured when a fire broke out at an apartment building in Yonkers on Thursday.
Flames ripped through the Mulberry Street building early Thursday evening.
"I guess during the fire a staircase collapsed. My understanding is that there were two people trapped," said Michael Sabatino, Yonkers director of community and government affairs.
It isn't clear if those are the same tenants from the fourth floor that were rushed to area hospitals.
A 68-year-old man is listed in grave condition, and an 85-year-old woman is in stable condition. Fire officials say it took about two hours to get the blaze under control.
"We were pouring heavy, massive streams on it for an hour," Deputy Chief John Folkerts said.
Officials say the fire started in a bedroom on the fourth floor. People ran for their lives with what little clothes they had on.
"I bring clothes, Bombas, sweatshirts, blankets, the little things that add up immediately because people run out without any of those," said Jim Killoran, with the Fuller Center.
The City of Yonkers Office of Emergency and the Red Cross also offered blankets, warm food and water while tending to families in the auditorium of the Westchester school a block away. Social services are also being provided.
"We have mental health professionals. We have health services professionals, reach out for people that lost medications," said John Angulet, with the Red Cross.
A silver lining during a search of the building: firefighters rescued a cat from the rubble.
"The family thought the cat may not have made it, but I have two cats so I know they're resilient, so I'm sure that will make them happy," Sabatino said.
A rep from the Red Cross says the nine families that have been displaced will be transported to a hotel Thursday night.
Yonkers police are leading the investigation. So far, the cause of the fire is unknown.