Bushwick Fire That Killed 7-Year-Old Boy Under Investigation
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A child is dead in a fire that engulfed a building in Brooklyn. Over 130 firefighters responded to the Sunday morning blaze which, officials say, began on the bottom floor and worked its way up.
LISTEN: WCBS 880 Reporter Mike Xirinachs reports...
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Juan Gonzalez lives right next door to the Bushwick home where Joel Smith, 7, was found dead in a rear bedroom and a 34-year-old man who is believed to be his father was taken away in critical condition.
"Flames, the house looked like an oven, it was crazy," he told 880's Mike Xirinachs.
The fire quickly spread to a second adjacent home. Firefighters battled frigid conditions in extinguishing the blaze.
"He was a good kid. That's all I say, he was a good kid," one neighbor told CBS 2's Ann Mercogliano.
"He was a child. I have a 7-year-old granddaughter, should never happen," said neighbor Miriam Cruz.
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In all, seven people were hurt and nearly a dozen residents were said to be displaced from their homes.
"Very tough fire this time of year with the wind and the cold weather," said FDNY Battalion Chief Michael Lee. "Unfortunately, one young man succumbed to his injuries, but we saved a lot of lives."
"When I opened the window the smoke was coming up into my window. I ran back, same thing, there was just even more smoke coming," said resident Rose Sistrunk. "I just grabbed my kids. We couldn't see nothing, black."
Little Evelyn Martinez, went to school with Smith. She left a candle and balloon for him after the tragedy.
Although, investigators say the fire is believed to be an accident, the cause is still under investigation.
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