Resident Jumps To Safety In Early Morning Bronx Fire That Left 10 Hurt

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Ten people were hurt, including one person who jumped from a window, in an early morning fire in the Bronx.

The blaze broke out around 2 a.m. at a two-story, multi-family home on East 202nd Street in Bedford Park.

The FDNY said the electrical fire started in a bedroom air conditioner and there was no working smoke alarm, CBS2's Andrea Grymes reported.

FDNY Deputy Chief Jim Brosi said heavy flames greeted them on the first floor when they initially arrived. Brosi said there were also several dogs inside and a large accumulation of stuff which made the fire difficult to extinguish and difficult to search for victims.

Despite the difficulties that fire crews faced, they were able to keep the fire from spreading.

One resident who lives in the basement described what she saw.

"Glass was going everywhere and they were, you know, pushing my dad out of the way and a piece almost fell on my dad," she told Grymes. "The fireman pushed him out to make sure that he was OK."

Resident Chris Tiru said his wife was able to run out of their apartment to safety, but his brother-in-law jumped out of the window down to the street about 12-feet below.

"It was definitely scary for my wife," Tiru said, adding that his brother-in-law sustained cuts and third-degree burns. Tiru also said two of his dogs survived, but a third did not. One of the dogs was found alive, hiding underneath a bed.

Three firefighters also suffered minor injuries in addition to six other residents of the building, officials said.

Residents are now going through the rubble trying to salvage whatever belongings they can.

"My neighbor's apartment is completely totaled," resident Richard Sierra said. "Most of mine was already in canisters."

Residents are also trying to find a place to sleep tonight. Some residents said they will be staying with family until they can find something more permanent.

The FDNY said working smoke alarms should be on every level of a home, including the basement, and within 15 feet of all sleeping areas.