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Elderly Woman Critically Hurt in Fire That Displaced 20 Families, FDNY Says

By  Trevor Kapp and Aidan Gardiner | November 28, 2016 8:40am | Updated on November 28, 2016 10:38am

 A fire tore through 1038 Southern Boulevard Sunday, officials said.
A fire tore through 1038 Southern Boulevard Sunday, officials said.
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DNAinfo/Trevor Kapp

LONGWOOD — A woman was critically injured Sunday night in a fire inside a Bronx apartment building that displaced about 20 families, officials said.

The woman, who police said was elderly, was hurt as the blaze tore through the fifth floor of 1038 Southern Blvd., near Westchester Avenue, about 8:15 p.m., an FDNY spokesman said.

The flames tore through the building's roof and out its windows, according to residents.

"My mom called me frantically saying, 'There's a fire in the building!'" said Peter Mena, 53, who wasn't home at the time but came when his mom called.

"I came and I just saw flames pouring through the roof and the side. They were several feet high. The whole top floor was engulfed."

Residents watched from outside as the blaze tore apart the building and one next door.

"I came outside and saw the flames," said Eliazar Barron, 39, who lives in 1042 Southern Blvd., which was also burned.

"They were bright orange. It was really bad. My son and my cousin were really scared, everyone was crying."

About 138 firefighters helped bring the blaze under control just before 10 p.m., officials said.

The elderly woman, who was not publicly identified, was listed in critical condition at Lincoln Medical Center, the spokesman said. She suffered from smoke inhalation, an NYPD spokesman said.

Seven firefighters were treated for minor injuries, an FDNY spokesman said.

The Red Cross was helping displaced families with emergency housing, blankets, food and clothing, officials said.

Fire marshals will determine what caused the fire, officials said.