Two New York City firefighters have survived a partial building collapse of a burning building in the Bronx.
An FDNY spokesman said Saturday that the firefighters were inside a multi-family home in the Van Nest section at the time of the collapse. They were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Seventeen firefighters and two civilians in total were injured in the fire. None of the injuries were life-threatening.
"When you hear the signals for firefighters' maydays and firefighters in distress, that gets your blood rising," said FDNY Chief Ron Spadafora. "Firefighters are trained to work in that type of condition, and got the [other] firefighters out."
Flames spread to five other surrounding building, said the spokesman.
Neighbor Daniel Rodriguez said he saw the fire spread rapidly from one house to the neighboring brick buildings and described "distraught" residents running out.
Ten families have been left homeless.
The cause of the fire wasn't immediately known.
Local
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