Two families displaced after fire tears through Flatlands home
Firefighters responded just before noon after heavy flames broke out, trapping two residents inside. First responders rescued both residents, who suffered minor injuries.
More Stories
Two families - six adults and two children - are seeking shelter with the Red Cross after a fire tore through a home on East 58th Street between J and K avenues in Brooklyn's Flatlands neighborhood Wednesday morning.
Firefighters responded just before noon after heavy flames broke out, trapping two residents inside. First responders rescued both residents, who suffered minor injuries.
"I just said, 'Oh my God. Fire.' I told my patient, 'Fire, fire, fire,'" said Sofia Taylor, a home aide who arrived at her patient's house across the street a few minutes after firefighters wrapped up.
Nearly 80 first responders rushed into the home as flames and smoke met them at the door, leaving neighbors stunned by the rescue mission.
"Our prayers and thoughts are with them. Hopefully they'll recover shortly and get back to their regular lives," said Henry, a Flatlands resident.
Henry said he was relieved to see firefighters carrying an older woman out of the home.
"To my shock, firefighters eventually brought out one of the occupants, an older lady. The fireman carried her in his arms. Very heroic," he said. "They put their lives at risk. And what I saw today, I was really impressed with it."
Families returning home from work and school were met with the destruction, with some stepping through broken glass to collect what belongings they could.
The fire left walls ripped open and stained with soot, with extensive damage throughout the home.
Fire marshals recovered a battery at the scene, but sources say the department does not believe it caused the fire.
