NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- A woman and teen girl were killed, and three more kids and a man were critically injured, in an early morning Brooklyn fire that's being investigated as a case of arson, police and fire officials said Tuesday.
The fire broke out around 2 a.m. at a three-story, multi-family building on Fountain Avenue, near Glenmore Avenue, in East New York.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. She has not yet been identified, and her relation to the children wasn't immediately known, but officials described the victims as a family.
A 17-year-old girl died at Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, where three more children, as young as 9 years old, were all in critical condition.
A 39-year-old man was also critically injured, according to the FDNY.
"To see a whole family like this together, this time of the night, and the amount of fire—it's very emotional," FDNY Assistant Chief Chuck Downey said.
The fire is being investigated as an act of arson, as an accelerant was found at the scene, according to police, who have launched a criminal investigation.
Downey said firefighters "encountered heavy fire on the first floor, second floor and the stairwell up to the third floor." A firefighter suffered minor injuries fighting the blaze.
Rakib, who lives across the street, described the fire as spreading "all over" the second floor. He said the damage was also visible in the first-floor hallway of the building.
"It was lighting up the whole block, the second floor was crazy fire," he said. "It was like hell."
Police haven't made any arrests or named any suspects as the investigation continues.
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