Firefighters responded after a fire was reported at 85-42 and 85-44 76th Street between 85 Drive and 85 Road in Woodhaven just before 4 p.m.
NewsCopter 7 was over the scene, where officials say the fire began at 85-42 76th St. and then quickly spread to the homes on both sides.
Daden Ghising, 18, was the only one inside her family's home at the time. She rushed out, saw the fast-moving blaze, then went back in to rescue her dog.
"The flames were like really scary," Ghising said. "Like, I don't know, it's sort of going, yeah, a lot. And then after that I just went back inside and I got my dog."
"She was crying so much that I was I thought that maybe she was trapped in the fire. That was scary for me," said Daden's father Penpa Tsering.
FDNY officials say 63 units and 192 fire and EMS personnel responded to the three-alarm fire.
The fire chief explained that even if the blaze was contained to only one building, they would have still raised it to three alarms because of the extreme summer heat and the pressure it puts on firefighters wearing heavy gear.
"It's hot because you're steaming from the inside out and you can only work efficiently for so long," said FDNY Department Chief Bob Sputh. "So, that's why we transmit the multiple alarms. We want to rotate people in and out quickly."
The extra manpower allows for shorter shifts on the line, and Eyewitness News was told that once a firefighter is replaced, he does not go back. Instead, he heads straight for the recovery unit.
"Their vitals are monitored, and they check to make sure they're good breathing before they leave, and they make sure they vitals are good," Sputh said.
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries, including two who were taken to the hospital. Two civilians also suffered minor injuries, including one who was taken to the hospital.
Unfortunately, two cats were killed in the fire.
The fire was placed under control just after 5:30 p.m., according to officials.
The Red Cross was also on the scene, not only to help with accommodations, but to make sure everyone had cold water on the stressful and sweltering evening.
"We were just panicking and crying," said Hailie Contreris, one of the fire victims. "That's our whole life in there. Can't imagine this happening."
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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