UPDATE: Deadly Brooklyn Brownstone Fire Caused by Smoking: FDNY
One person was killed and a firefighter was injured in what the FDNY called a "suspicious" fire at a four-family brownstone in Brooklyn Friday afternoon.
Firefighters responded to the fire, on Jefferson Avenue at Throop Avenue, just after 2:30 p.m. in Bed-Stuy.
It took firefighters about 30 minutes to get the blaze under control. It was centered on the third floor of the home, but started in a stairwell between the second and third floors, officials said.
Authorities identified the victim as 56-year-old Michael Floyd on Friday evening. Neighbors say he shared an apartment with his brother, who tried desperately to save him but wasn't able to get past a wall of flames.
"He said, 'Michele, I tried to get my brother out but I couldn't...' And it was getting too intense so he had to go," neighbor Michele Houston said.
Floyd was found dead in his bed, firefighters said.
Local
There were four people in the apartment at the time of the blaze, including Floyd and his brother.
One of the residents was stranded on the ledge of the home as he tried to escape the flames. Firefighters had to rescue him using a ladder.
"I see a guy on a ledge, on the top floor, telling everybody to get out the house," witness Jason Roberts said.
Another witness was asleep when she smelled smoke. She says she rushed to rescue a neighbor who can't walk, and the two made their way to safety in a hallway.
"I was asleep and I smelled smoke and I just jumped up and saw the fire department," Houston said. "Thank God we got just a little smoke."
The FDNY said the fire is "suspicious" because it started in the stairwell and was of such a large size in the middle of the day.
The fire marshal was at the scene investigating Friday evening.
A firefighter suffered minor injuries and was taken to Kings County Hospital. He or she is expected to be alright.
