Fire tears through top floor of apartment building in the Bronx
CLAREMONT, Bronx (WABC) -- Fire swept through the top floor of an apartment building in the Bronx Sunday morning, forcing several families out of their homes.
The 4-alarm fire broke out just after 5 a.m. at a five-story building on Clay Avenue in the Claremont section.
Residents were woken up by firefighters. "I was trying to grab the door knob, they actually came in with the whole door," said resident Tammy Forman. "I'm shocked. Wondering about my cat, they can't find him."
Firefighters had to switch from an interior to an exterior response because it was too dangerous to be inside.
It took about two hours to bring the fire under control.
Two firefighters and two civilians suffered minor injuries, including a pregnant woman who suffered smoke inhalation.
The fire chief said it was a recently renovated building so firefighters had to break through an old ceiling and a new ceiling to get to the fire.
About 200 firefighters and 40 units responded to the scene.
The top floor of the building is uninhabitable, officials said. The rest of the building has water damage, but people will be able to go back in. There are about 50 apartments in the building.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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