At least four people, including a 3-year-old boy, were killed when a four-alarm fire tore through a three-story brick building in Flushing, Queens on Monday afternoon, FDNY officials said.<\/p>\n
The fire broke out just before 12:30 p.m. at 44-49 College Point Blvd., spreading through at least five apartments on the second and third floors of the building and a ground-floor commercial space, officials said. More than 230 firefighters responded to the scene before the fire was placed under control just before 2:45 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a difficult and tragic day,\u201d FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said in a statement. \u201cThere were several victims in this fire. The Fire Department did an extraordinary job under difficult circumstances, putting this fire out and saving people. I can’t thank them enough for their continued efforts and commitment to life safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officials said firefighters arrived to find heavy fire on all three floors. Three people jumped from the building\u2019s upper floors as the fire spread, according to Kevin Woods, the FDNY\u2019s chief of fire operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe noticed three jumpers, three people that jumped from the upper floors,\u201d Woods said. \u201cThere was also a victim trapped at the second floor, which our members removed via a portable ladder.\u201d<\/p>\n
Woods said firefighters were performing CPR on victims in the street while crews battled the blaze.<\/p>\n
Officials said three people were pronounced dead at the scene and another died at the hospital.<\/p>\n
At least one injured person was taken to Jacobi Medical Center in critical condition. At least three others were seriously injured and taken to Booth Memorial Hospital, officials said. At least six firefighters were also injured and are in stable condition.<\/p>\n