5 Die in Early-Morning Brooklyn Fire

Five people died in an early-morning fire today fire that collapsed a Brooklyn commercial and residential building, authorities said.

A two-month-old and two adults were rescued, but were hospitalized in critical condition, firefighters said.

That child and another were dropped from the third floor of 2033 86th Street near 20th Avenue in Bensonhurst before firefighters arrived.

Five people died in an early-morning fire today fire that collapsed a Brooklyn commercial and residential building, authorities said.A two-month-old and two adults were rescued, but were hospitalized in critical condition, firefighters said.

That child and another were dropped from the third floor of 2033 86th Street near 20th Avenue in Bensonhurst before firefighters arrived. The 2-month-old suffered a skull in the fall.

Up to 20 people lived in the building, officials said.

Firefighters are afraid more victims might lie in the building’s ruins, and were searching the rubble this morning. Subway service was halted through the neighborhood out of fears vibrations would make the building collapse further.

The blaze broke out around 2:31 a.m. and was declared under control at 5:15 a.m.

The flames were unusually intense, and was well underway by the time firefighters arrived, said FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief John Sudnik.

"It was not a normal fire," Sudnik said.

The building had a restaurant on its ground floor, and two stories of apartments above. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

Reprinted with permission of the New York Post.