THE BRONX, New York (WABC) — Ten people were injured, including two critically, after a fire broke out at an apartment building in the Bronx on Tuesday, according to officials.
The FDNY says flames broke out inside a third-floor apartment of a six-story building at 1166 Grand Concourse off McClellan Street just after 3 p.m.
Firefighters had the scene under control in an hour, but officials say 10 people were injured, including two who are in critical condition.
Officials told Eyewitness News that the two people in critical condition were not in the fire apartment. First responders found them on an upper floor, unconscious from smoke inhalation.
Police say everyone injured in the fire is expected to survive.
For the Paulino family, the worst moment came when no one answered their smokey door. Their two children were home with their grandfather when flames broke out in their neighbor’s apartment.
The mother raced home, banged on the door but no one opened it. She didn’t know at the time that the grandfather took his young grandchildren out the fire escape to safety.
“Once my wife got to the apartment, she tried to knock on the door as hard as she could. Nobody was there,” said resident Francisco Paulino.
Walter Irupailla lives down the hall from the apartment where the fire broke out, and says his home is fine despite the smokey, sooty hallway.
The Red Cross reports one family is staying in a hotel.
The Paulinos are spending the night with family.
“That was horrible. That was scary,” Francisco Paulino said.
Fire Marshalls now investigating the cause.
