A Flatbush apartment building was ravaged by fire early Wednesday morning, leaving one man in critical condition and 10 others with minor injuries.
The fire tore through the apartment complex on Ocean Avenue at around 2 a.m., forcing tenants into the cold.
Fire officials say the blaze was caused by a space heater that was left too close to the bed. Firefighters rescued a man from the room where the fire originated, and he was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Witnesses say the man was severely burned.
One family that was left homeless as a result of the blaze is being assisted by the Red Cross. The organization put the family in a hotel for two nights.
FDNY officials say heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires during the winter months. They remind people to keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything flammable and turn them off when leaving the room or going to bed.