By Kenny Porpora
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER EAST SIDE — A family of six escaped a fire that seriously damaged their historical townhouse by leaping on to a neighbors roof early Thursday morning, officials and witnesses said.
The inside of the landmarked 12 E. 80th Street was destroyed by the blaze, which broke out about 3:30 a.m., FDNY officials said
"We were awoken by screaming and exploding glass," said a neighbor who refused to give her name. "I heard one man scream from the courtyard, 'What's going on?' and another yelled "There's a fire!'"
David and Sally Bednar told the New York Post they woke to the smell of smoke.
The Bednars' nine-year-old son declared his dad a hero for saving him and his three siblings.
The family, which claimed to have lost everything in the blaze, is now staying with an aunt on the Upper West Side, she said.
The landmarked building is the only remaining one of five brownstones designed in 1885-86 by Charles Graham and Sons, according to the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The fire was accidentally started on the second floor where a resident was refinishing the floors and it was put out by 4:58 a.m., an FDNY spokesman said. Wood shavings, dust and urethane spontaneously ignited, officials said.
Neighbors and passers-by gawked at the charred brick five-story building just before lunchtime on Thursday. Soot and broken glass littered the sidewalk of the tree-lined street. Wires hung from burned ceilings and walls were warped by smoke damage inside the building.
Officials said the fourth floor had sustained the worst damage.
Residents made several trips in-and-out of the building after the fire was put out, carrying bicycles, clothing and black plastic bags full of pictures.