A devastating fire swept through a two-story apartment building in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood early Thursday morning, killing six people and injuring seven others, according to officials. The blaze was reported around 1:30 a.m., rapidly engulfing the structure.
More than 200 firefighters battled the flames for approximately an hour before bringing the inferno under control. Three firefighters were injured during the operation. Four civilians were pronounced dead at the scene, and two others died after being transported to the hospital. The identities of the deceased and the injured civilians have not yet been released.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as terrifying, with flames visible bursting from the building's windows. Neighbors reported seeing a family residing in the building. Hazmat officials were on site due to the potential presence of a lithium-ion battery, though it has not been confirmed as the fire's cause.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani visited the scene, emphasizing the devastating impact of fires on residents and the need for city-wide support for those displaced.