7 firefighters injured battling blaze in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn; 1 resident hurt
BENSONHURST, Brooklyn (WABC) -- At least seven firefighters suffered injuries while battling a quick-moving fire that burned through several buildings in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, on Tuesday afternoon.
The blaze was reported at 2050 71st Street around 1:15 p.m.
Roughly 170 firefighters showed up as flames quickly engulfed the building and began spreading to nearby homes, including Andrew Battaglia's.
The sanitation supervisor had to rescue his dogs Lokey and Buster from his family's house as it filled with smoke from the fire next door.
"They're helpless, they were just sitting, waiting to burn basically," Battaglia said.
Firefighters managed to coax one of the dogs out of the smoke, but the other was too terrified to escape.
"I had to get him through the smoke. Pick him up and carry him outside," Battaglia said.
In all, seven firefighters suffered minor injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals. One resident also suffered minor injuries.
The fire was placed under control just before 3 p.m.
The Department of Buildings says the fire caused extensive damage to four buildings.
Inspectors determined that the conditions have rendered the buildings unsafe to occupy and will be issuing vacate orders.
The Red Cross is assisting anyone displaced by the fire.
Battaglia says he has nothing but the sanitation uniform he wore on Tuesday, but he has Lokey and Buster. He says, they are all he really needs.
"At the end of the day the main thing is they're ok, the rest can be replaced," he said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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