Jul 1, 2008 1:47 pm US/Eastern
Brooklyn Fire Victims Speak After Dramatic Escape
Reporting
Jay Dow
BROOKLYN (CBS) ―
Several Brooklyn residents woke up Tuesday morning to smoke and fire after their apartment building burst into flames. CBS 2 spoke with several victims who were able to escape the fast-moving fire.
Intense flames, thick smoke and seemingly no way out. That's what building superintendent Pablo Fuentes and his family experienced at about 2:30 a.m., when their second floor apartment at 1001 Ocean Avenue suddenly burst into flames.
"They suffered with about 70 percent of their bodies burned," said Maria Haig, daugther of Pablo.
Haig, who no longer resides at the now fire-torn building, says her father went for the only exit he could find.
According to Haig, the fire moved quickly towards the back of the apartment, where the children were sleeping. But her father was able to get a few of the kids, and his wife towards the front window, leading them to safety.
"My two nieces and my little nephew, my little sister...he threw them out the window. And a good samaritan, who lives right under them was able to catch them. At the end, my father jumped with my mom," said Haig.
But firefighters had to rescue five family members still trapped inside.
"When they pulled up, the door had been locked so they had to force entry. The fire met them right at the front door, so prior to the line being in place, ladder 157 and their entry team was able to crawl in under the fire and were able to locate the people," said FDNY Chief Hugh Mulligan.
Meanwhile, sources say, black smoke billowed through the rest of the four story building.
"We tried the front door, but there was so much smoke. The fire escape was even worse. So I just told everyone to put something over their head and we'll go out through the roof," said tenant Richard Lino.
Fortunately, no other tenants were injured. But for Maria Haig, who's relatives barely escaped with their lives, it was a night she will not soon forget.
"I'm trying to bear with it," she said.
Fire marshalls are still investigating the cause of the fire. Three firefighters and three police officers were also hurt, but none of the injuries are considered life threatening.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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