The four-alarm fire broke out just before 12:30 p.m. at a mixed-used building on College Point Boulevard between Avery and Pople avenues in Flushing.
Earlier on Monday, the FDNY confirmed that two adults and one child, a 3-year-old boy, were killed in the fire. Police later confirmed a fourth victim, an adult man, died on the way to the hospital.
"We're mourning the loss of four New Yorkers after today's devastating four-alarm fire in Flushing. My heart is with their families, loved ones and every neighbor impacted," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a post on his X account.
In an update on Monday evening, NYPD officials said three people, a 44-year-old man, 59-year-old man and 67-year-old woman, are in stable condition at Jacobi Hospital. Four more victims, a 33-year-old man, 39-year-ol woman, 40-year-old woman and 51-year-old man, are in stable condition at NewYork-Presbyterian Qeens.
"This is a difficult and tragic day. There were several victims of this fire. I can confirm for you at this point that there were three fatalities," said FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore during a press conference earlier on Monday.
Officials says three people jumped from the third floor. Another person was rescued from the second floor.
"We noticed three jumpers, three people that jumped from the upper floors, three victims who was also the victim trapped at the second floor, which is reported to be a portable ladder," FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said.
Resident Vivian Marie described to Eyewitness News what she saw during the fire.
"I live on, like on the corner, and I just started smelling smoke. So I thought it was my building. But I checked and it wasn't us," Marie said.
Neighbors came outside to see EMS performing CPR to severely-burned victims in the street.
"I think they were trying to give him CPR, he was screaming and eventually he stopped. I think he was in shock," Marie said.
Six firefighters were also treated and taken to area hospitals in stable condition.
As firefighters rushed up the stairs, officials say the stairwell collapsed under them.
"As our engine companies were moving in the first floor and up the stairs to the second floor, the stairs collapsed and those two members were trapped in the stairs," Woods said.
First responders later extricated the firefighters who fell through the stairs.
Over 230 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene to help assist and battle the fire.
The Department of Buildings issued a full vacate order at both 132-05 Avery Ave.and 44-49 College Point Blvd, and the utility company was called to the scene to turn off gas and electric service to the buildings.
The Department of Buildings had received complaints about illegal subdivisions in the building more than a decade ago. It's not clear if those were resolved or who was living there now.
The FDNY says there were five apartments. Only one household, four adults, has registered for help from the American Red Cross so far
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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