Fire Breaks Out in Building Across from Razag

Crown Heights [CHI] — A fire broke out on the top floor of a high-rise apartment building early Thursday, right across the street from Bnos Menachem girls’ school. The fire has left an 89-year-old woman in critical condition.

The blaze was sparked at around 12:30am in an apartment on the 20th floor of 728 East New York Ave., and was under control by 1:30am.

From the New York Post:

An 89-year-old woman is in critical condition after two broken elevators in her Flatbush housing project slowed the firefighters rushing to her burning 20th-floor apartment early this morning, authorities said.

Firefighters rushed to reach the East New York Avenue building at about 12:30 a.m. only to find that neither of the building’s elevators worked, so the smoke-eaters had to haul hoses and equipment up 20 flights of stairs to reach the flames, the FDNY said.

The elderly victim was found inside her one-bedroom apartment near the door, as if she was trying to get out. Firefighters performed CPR on the senior citizen while carrying her down the stairs.

“She was burned and also in cardiac arrest,” said Deputy Chief Michael Ajello, who oversaw the scene. “The concerted effort of all the members on the scene undoubtedly saved the life of this victim.”

The octogenarian was taken to Kings County Hospital in critical condition. One other resident was treated for smoke inhalation and one firefighter was treated for minor injuries. The fire began in the bedroom from an overloaded power strip, officials said.

It took 15 units and about 75 firefighters about 45 minutes to extinguish the blaze, which occurred at 728 East New York Avenue in the William Reid Apartments. Elevator repairmen were at the building this morning trying to determine why the elevators didn’t work, Ajello said.