Fire officials say a blaze tore through two buildings on 169th Street Wednesday morning, sending seven firefighters to the hospital and destroying three apartments and a business.

Authorities say the flames began around 4:20 a.m. and quickly spread through the roof of a two-story building to the adjacent structure. Fire Chief Rob Lombardo says the fire began in one apartment, but quickly jumped to the next building, destroying three apartments and a deli. According to the bodega owner, Sadak Alsadi, what the fire didn?t destroy was damaged by water.

One tenant, Ana Cespedes, says she, along with her three children, will have to pick up the pieces of their home and start over. Cespedes says watching the firefighters break through her building?s windows to extinguish the flames was painful.

Seven firefighters suffered minor injuries and were taken to Jacobi Medical Center. They are expected to be fine.