Oct. 5--A five-alarm fire tore through a Bronx apartment building Friday night, sending seven firefighters and one resident to the hospital, authorities said.
The flames erupted on the top floor of the six-floor Grand Concourse building near Rockwood St. in Mount Eden around 8:15 p.m., the FDNY said. The fast-moving fire quickly spread through the roof of the building within an hour, sending plumes of smoke billowing into the night sky.
Over 200 firefighters descended on the Grand Concourse to battle the blaze. Jesus Flores, who lives around the corner, rushed to the scene when he smelled smoke from his apartment -- and ended up handing out blankets to displaced residents.
"Flames were everywhere, firefighters went up on ladders to go through windows," Flores, 42, said. "I just wanted to do what I could to help. People ran out of the building and were holding their families and crying."
Seven firefighters were taken to Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, including one in serious but stable condition. One tenant was taken to the same hospital for heavy smoke inhalation and was in stable condition, the FDNY said.
Resident Noura Nana was able to escape her fifth-floor apartment unharmed with her husband and two children.
"When I walked out (of my apartment) there was fire and water and smoke. We grabbed our children and I ran down with my kids and husband," Nana said. "I don't know if my apartment was ruined," she said, standing outside the building wrapped in a Red Cross blanket. "I don't know anything. I might not have anything anymore."
Fire marshals were trying to determine Friday night what caused the blaze.
___ (c)2019 New York Daily News
Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
