Officials: 1 dead, several injured in fire in Yonkers apartment building

The city of Yonkers is providing hotel vouchers to many of the families forced out of their homes by a deadly fire at a large co-op complex on Bronx River Road.

It's likely the damaged buildings will be torn down.

The intense flames and billowing smoke upended so many lives.

Fire officials say 95 units at the Mona Lisa co-op residence were rendered uninhabitable by a four-alarm fire.

A resident on the fifth floor died after inhaling smoke and suffering cardiac arrest.

"It was traumatic. It was traumatic. I looked out the window and all I could see was flames, so ... ," Paula Marino said.

Marino was briefly allowed back in the north section of the building to retrieve some belongings from her water-damaged apartment.

It was tough for CBS2's Tony Aiello to see a familiar face in pain. Marino used to babysit his kids 10 years ago.

"I'm just in shock, to be honest, but I am staying at my parents', so ...," Marino said.

The Red Cross is working with the city of Yonkers to assist dozens of families, many escaping the inferno in just their pajamas.

"The clothes that I'm wearing now, that's it. That's all I got. Everything, I mean, I had so much stuff. It's gone," victim Jeannie Sarachello said.

"People really right now are crying. They don't know where they're gonna sleep tonight," victim Michele Williams added.

The layout of the complex, which has a large parking deck in front, complicated the firefighting effort. Trucks had to set up on Bronx River Road and extend their booms to reach flames at the front of the building.

Firefighters carried ladders to the front to rescue residents.

"There was a gentleman hanging out the window and the only way we could get him, you could see, [was] those two ladders," Yonkers Fire Commissioner Tony Pagano said.

Pagano said icy conditions led to numerous slip-and-fall injuries to firefighters.

Many of the residents had insurance, which will help them with their recovery. Others did not. Burke's Pub, which is next to the fire scene, is raising money and collecting supplies to help those who need it.

A 95-unit co-op building will likely be condemned after flames and smoke engulfed it early Wednesday morning.

CBS2 got close-up access to the scene in Yonkers.

Fire trucks were forced to park on Bronx River Road and extend their booms to put water on the blaze, while firefighters carried hand ladders to the front of the building to rescue a resident.

"There was a gentleman hanging out the window and the only way we could get him, you could see, those two ladders," Yonkers Fire Commissioner Tony Pagano said.

Pagano said 35 firefighters needed treatment, many slipping as conditions became icy.

The fire was reported in a ground-floor apartment at around 1 a.m. and grew to four alarms.

Many residents were roused from their sleep as smoke filled the north and south sections of the building.

"We woke up -- me and my wife were sleeping. My wife woke me up. She said there's a lot of commotion. She thought it was a fight. People banging at the door, then I heard 'fire.' So we got dressed, put on our coats, our cell phones, got out of the building, got out as fast as we can," said resident Anthony Konkowski. "There were smoke alarms going off, yes."

A man in the north building went into cardiac arrest. Firefighters carried him down five stories, but he died at a nearby hospital, officials said.

Later Wednesday morning, residents began the long process of picking up the pieces. Michele Williams told CBS2 she's trying to stay positive.

"My mindset is making sure people are alive and coping. That's it. That's how you have to be in this setting. In this world we live in right now, everything else is replaceable," Williams said.

Authorities in Yonkers released a statement about the fire. 

They say Yonkers fire and police departments arrived on the scene at 671 Bronx River Road at around 1 a.m. 

The building has 95 units in it. Residents have been evacuated to the community center near the fire scene. 

One resident died. Five other residents and first responders also sustained injuries. 

Bronx River Road between Midland Avenue and Mile Square is temporarily closed due to the fire. Commuters are advised to avoid the area - other street closures are possible. 

A Yonkers fire official tells CBS2's Zinnia Maldonado that in addition to the one fatality, five or six more people have been hospitalized. 

A resident of the building spoke about the chaos he woke up to Wednesday morning. 

"We woke up - me and my wife were sleeping. My wife woke me up. She said there's a lot of commotion. She thought it was a fight. People banging at the door, then I heard 'fire.' So we got dressed, put on our coats, our cell phones, got out of the building, got out as fast as we can," said resident Anthony Konkowski. "There were smoke alarms going off, yes." 

Fire officials said 11 firefighters have been treated for minor injuries. 

There are about 95 apartments in the complex. Residents have been 

There's a massive fire response along Bronx River Road. 

At 5 a.m., flames were still shooting out of the roof of the seven story apartment complex. The fire had grown to four alarms. 

Crews are pouring gallons and gallons of water on top of the building. 

Video taken from a nearby balcony shows the fire when it first broke out. 

Yonkers Police confirm one person has died and another was taken to the hospital in extremely critical condition. Other people have been injured as well, and were taken to nearby hospitals. 

"We have every company in the city fighting this fire. We also have additional companies that are here from places like Eastchester, New Rochelle, I believe Mount Vernon are all here assisting us in this fight. This is a very difficult building to fight, it's kind of an odd shape. It's 95 families. As you can see, almost impossible to fight from this street, and we're fighting it from this street, and the other side," said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. 

We're still waiting for an official number of injuries. 

Those who have been displaced are receiving assistance. 

Crews are still working to put out the flames.