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8 Injured in Fire on Intervale Avenue, Officials Say

By  Trevor Kapp and Aidan Gardiner | December 10, 2012 7:55am 

MORRISANIA — Eight people were injured — two critically — when a fire broke out in an Intervale Avenue apartment building Sunday afternoon, officials said.

The blaze started about 5:30 p.m. inside of 941 Intervale Ave., near East 163rd Street, FDNY officials said.

Two of the victims were critically injured, while two others suffered serious injuries but were listed in stable condition, officials said.

"I was watching the Giants game, and my son told me there was a fire," said Aali Tillman, 37, who lives on the second floor. "I seen nothing but smoke coming from the door. You couldn't see in front of you. It was like something out of the movie 'Backdraft.'"

Christina Rosario, 26, who lives on the sixth floor, said she looked out the window after hearing screams and jumped onto the fire escape with her two daughters, 2 and 1.

"I was afraid for my kids' lives," Rosario said. "We barely had any clothes on. You just saw flames. I'd never experienced something like that."

Three firefighters suffered minor injuries, and an NYPD police officer was hurt but refused medical attention at the scene, officials said.

The four civilians and three firefighters were taken to to Harlem Hospital Center, according to the FDNY.

The blaze was brought under control about 30 minutes after it started, a fire department spokesman said.

The cause is under investigation.