5 people hurt, 2 homes destroyed by early morning fire in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
NEW YORK -- Five people were injured and two homes were destroyed by a fire early Friday morning in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
The four-alarm fire broke out shortly before 4 a.m. on Kingsland Avenue near Meeker Avenue.
Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting out of the windows before completely engulfing the homes. Officials said the fire started in the back of one building before spreading to another next door.
"It went from a first alarm to a third alarm in 10 minutes. We got a lot of units here quickly. It quickly spread both left and right," FDNY Assistant Fire Chief Tom Currao told reporters on the scene.
It was a hectic situation for those who endured the intense fire. Resident Sherry Wassermann said, at first, she didn't know what was going on.
"It was my neighbor, Lisa, she was screaming. I can hear from her apartment, 'fire, fire, oh my god,'" Wassermann told CBS New York's Elijah Westbrook. "So I just got out and got out of the building."
The FDNY reported five people were injured, and three were taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
The Red Cross said it's helping eight impacted households of 13 adults and one child, providing temporary shelter and financial assistance, as well as blankets, toiletries, water and snacks.
"We just heard the sirens -- a ridiculous level of sirens, even for New York City. And I just feel so bad for the families, it's heartbreaking at this time of night and this time of year," neighbor Kristen Reyes said.
The investigation continues into what sparked the massive fire.
