What to Know
- A 97-year-old woman and her home health aide were critically injured in a fire that broke out at a Chinatown building
- The fire started on the second floor of 113 Mott Street, near Hester Street, around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday
- Clutter in an apartment on the building's third floor may have contributed to the blaze, the FDNY said
A 97-year-old woman and her home health aide were critically injured in a fire that broke out at a Chinatown building, the FDNY said.
The fire started inside a four-story walkup apartment building at 113 Mott Street, near Hester Street, around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, the FDNY said.
Firefighters confronted a dangerous obstacle on the third floor -- an apartment jammed with stacks of paper, objects and little room to maneuver.
"The job is challenging enough," said FDNY Chief Michael Gala. "Trying to navigate over clutter is extremely challenging."
The woman and her aide were brought down the stairs and taken to the hospital, where they were listed in critical condition, the department said.
The woman went into cardiac arrest, according to the department.
Local
Firefighters had brought the fire under control by around 2 p.m., the department said. Fire marshals are conducting an investigation into the cause of origin of the blaze.
