EAST NEW YORK. N.Y. (WABC) -- A four alarm fire that burned down a Brooklyn building and caused a three day suspension of J subway service was accidental, caused by an overloaded power strip, fire marshals have determined.
Seven people were injured in the massive fire, and it could have been much worse if not for the police officers who ran in to the burning building to help get residents to safety.
The fast-moving fire broke out just after 1 a.m. on the first floor of a three-story building on the 100 block of Hendrix Street at Fulton Street in East New York. But even late Friday evening, firefighters were still dousing hot spots, while those who lived there are dealing with the loss of everything they own.
At one point, the flames sparked a fourth alarm.
Two police officers assigned to the area rushed into the building after spotting the flames while driving past. One officer climbed the fire escape and pulled a man and his dog out of a third-floor window, while his partner rushed through a hallway into an apartment to rescue an elderly man and two children.
Two other officers and a sergeant assigned nearby also helped escort people out.
Residents got out safely, but four were injured along with two police officers and one firefighter.
None of the injuries is considered life threatening.
Fourteen people were evacuated from the building.
According to FDNY Chief James Daly, elevated rail and power lines on either side of building hindered firefighters. They opted to stretch water lines from the Van Siclen Avenue station, which led to the suspension of the J subway line between Crescent Street and Broadway Junction.