Child Killed, Man Critically Injured In Bronx High-Rise Fire
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A child is dead and a man is in critical condition after a high-rise fire in the Bronx.
The FDNY says firefighters were sent to a building on East 135th Street between Alexander and Lincoln avenues in Mott Haven around 5:15 p.m. Friday for a report of a fire in a compactor chute.
Police say smoke spread into the upper floors of the building.
A 32-year-old man and a 6-year-old boy were found unconscious in a hallway, suffering from smoke inhalation.
The 6-year-old was pronounced dead at Harlem Hospital. The 32-year-old was last reported to be in critical condition.
Eight people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and two firefighters suffered minor injuries.
CBS2's Cory James spoke with neighbors who said they were trapped for about an hour.
"As soon as you opened the door, pitch black, had to go back in the apartment, was pitch black. You couldn't even see each other," Darryl Thompson said.
"A child to die that young, it's very sad," Aaliyah Garcia said.
One neighbor said she was thankful for a firefighter who carried her down several flights of stairs.
Over 100 firefighters responded, and it took crews about two hours to get the fire under control.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.