17 people were killed, including one person, in an explosion this morning (Monday) in an apartment building on Penn Street in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Rescuers were called to the scene shortly before 7 am and found heavy fire on the first floor of the building.
More than 100 firefighters were called to fight the blaze.
A rescue company sent ambulances to the scene from Williamsburg, Crown Heights, Lower East Side, Flatbush and Borough Park. They treated 17 injured people, all suffering from smoke inhalation.
— WILLIAMSBURG NEWS (@WMSBG) January 23, 2023
Other residents of the building were evacuated using portable ladders and tower ladders of the firefighters.
The deputy assistant chief of the fire fighters said: “We met with a large number of patients at an early stage and almost all at the same time. Once they were rescued by firefighters, emergency responders on the scene had to make quick decisions about severity Godinjuries. One of the casualties was fatal and was immediately taken to the hospital by rescue volunteers. We were lucky enough to be about half a block away from the rescue center, so we had a lot of help in the beginning. In total, we had 16 stable non-critical casualties, and one critical.”
.@hatzalah and @FDNY are on scene at 265 Penn St, for a 2nd Alarm Fire with people and kids trapped, 1 patient is in traumatic arrest, Hatzolah is treating 8 patients, requesting additional Ambulances from surrounding areas. pic.twitter.com/48YsMyblKs
— WILLIAMSBURG NEWS (@WMSBG) January 23, 2023