5 firefighters injured while battling massive fire in the Bronx that engulfed 2 homes

Five firefighters were hurt while battling a large fire that engulfed two homes in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx on Thursday morning.

Video from the scene shows thick, black smoke in the area. 

The FDNY received a call just after 8 a.m. about flames in the basement of a two-story home at 2666 Briggs Ave.

Officials said the blaze spread out of the basement window to the building next door at 2664 Briggs, prompting more than 200 fire and EMS personnel to respond and causing the Department of Buildings to issue a full vacate order to both properties.

Three firefighters had minor injuries, and two were seriously injured, according to Deputy Assistant Chief Tim Keenan.

He said crews were faced with heat exhaustion as they took on the flames.

"As you know, it's a very, very hot day today. We're in a heat wave here in the city, and wearing all this protective gear and being encapsulated in this is very demanding, physically demanding, on our firefighters, so that adds an additional challenge," Keenan said.

The fire comes as the air quality in New York is already poor due to smoke from wildfires in Canada. Skies have been hazy since Wednesday.

No residents were hurt, and the blaze is being investigated.

The Red Cross is providing temporary housing and financial assistance to six households, which include 13 adults and four children.