Horror at Crown Heights: 3 of Brooklyn family die in fire that took more than 100 firefighters to control
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: A devastating fire engulfed a brownstone in Brooklyn in the early hours of Sunday, resulting in the loss of three lives, with numerous others suffering injuries.
As the community of Crown Heights reels from this tragedy, authorities are working tirelessly to determine the cause of the deadly blaze.
Firefighters' grueling battle against raging blaze in Crown Heights
The New York City Fire Department received a distress call at approximately 4:30 am, on Sunday morning, November 12, summoning firefighters to a residence in Crown Heights. John Esposito, the chief of fire operations, later described the heart-wrenching sight they encountered: a three-story building ablaze on multiple floors.
The operation proved to be perilous, with three critically injured adults unable to survive their injuries, despite swift medical attention.
Who are the victims of the tragic fire?
The victims were identified by the New York Police Department as Albertha West, 81, Michael West, 58, and Jamiyl West, 33. Their untimely demise has cast a pall over the close-knit community, leaving neighbors and loved ones grappling with grief.
"These are good people. They've been here forever. They've been here all their life. So for this to happen and not see them no more, it's devastating," Ricardo, a Crown Heights resident said.
In addition to the fatalities, 14 other individuals sustained injuries in the fire, while a firefighter also suffered a significant injury, though non-life-threatening.
The heroic efforts of 138 first responders were needed to combat the intense flames, which raged on for a considerable period before being brought under control. It was a “very difficult, dangerous fire operation,” Esposito stated.
Crown Heights neighbors describe nightmarish ordeal
"It's like you're waking up in a dream and you're hoping it's just a dream, but it's true," neighbor George Williams claimed, as per CBS. Abigail Cepada, a neighbor, recounted the panic that ensued as she and her family evacuated their home.
"We were home sleeping and all I heard was my mom saying, 'Fire! Fire! Get out! Fire! Fire!,'" Abigail recalled.
"This fire was extremely powerful. It was really bad. The whole house was on fire. My mother, she was one person come out, look like really bad, look like they wasn't going to make it."