Brooklyn firefighters battled an intense fire on Wednesday morning that injured 16 people — including three residents left in critical condition.
The two-alarm inferno broke out inside 65 Bay 19th St. in Bath Beach at about 6:15 a.m. on Jan. 15.
Fire Department sources said units from Battalion 42 arrived on the scene to find heavy fire emanating from the first floor of the six-story dwelling, with residents trapped inside.
Working quickly, firefighters were able to access the apartment and pulled out one adult and two children in a second-floor hallway who had been critically injured in the fire. The three victims were turned over to paramedics, who rendered aid and rushed them to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Complicating the firefighting efforts, according to FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Joseph Duggan, the Brooklyn borough commander, were heavy smoke and high heat from the fire, which was allowed to spread to the second floor thanks to open doors.
“The smoke condition was heavy and going up the stairwells,” Duggan said. “If you leave the fire door open, that causes all sorts of problems. Not only for the apartment directly involved, but for your neighbors.”
Meanwhile, residents in the other areas of the building that were not on fire either opened windows and hung their heads out, or scrambled to flee with their children, pets and whatever belongings they could gather.
Six firefighters were also injured in the blaze along with seven residents. Each of them was treated for minor injuries.
Using three hose lines to knock down the main body of fire, FDNY personnel were able to bring the blaze under control at about 7:59 a.m. Wednesday. The FDNY Marshals are now investigating the exact cause.
The fire was the second such incident to hit Bath Beach in four days. On Sunday, firefighters put out a fire that gutted a vacant home on Cropsey Avenue. No injuries were reported in that incident.
