By Meredith Hoffman and Wil Cruz
DNAinfo Staff
BROOKLYN — A massive fire ripped through a Bushwick building Wednesday afternoon, sending more than 100 firefighters racing to the scene.
The three-alarm blaze was sparked on the first and second floors of 283 Evergreen Ave., near Stanhope Street, about 3 p.m., but quickly spread throughout of the four-story structure, fire officials said.
"The fire was in the window top to bottom," said Farak Maldonado, who lives in a first floor apartment. "It was like, 'Boom!' Blowing up."
Neighbors were worried about their friends in the Evergreen building.
"I was in shock," said Sheila Rodriguez, 19, who lives down the block.
"In Bushwick, you know everybody. Everybody's your neighbor," said Jessica Sanchez, 19. "I was worried who was hurt."
Battalion Chief Fred Schaaf said the blaze sparked and moved up the building "within minutes."
Witnesses took to Twitter while the fire was raging.
"My prayers are with friends & the families impacted by the fire taking place right now -on [Stanhope] and Evergreen in #Bushwick BK," @JesusGonzalezNY tweeted.
Another witness got a close look at the blaze and praised the firefighters.
"Watching NYC's Bravest fight this fire in Bushwick Right now!" NOTARNYC tweeted. "Watching through binoculars on Roof and its Looks Horrible. People on Roof!"
The FDNY could not immediately confirm that residents were rescued from the building's roof, but said that some were evacuated.
The fire was under control about 4:30 p.m., an FDNY spokesman said. Four people, including three firefighters, were injured, an FDNY spokesman said. It was unclear if they were taken to hospitals, but the injuries did not appear to be serious, he said.
Michael De Vulpillieres, a spokesman for the American Red Cross of Greater New York, said the organization had teams at the building, which has eight units, to determine if people needed assistance, including housing, funds for food and clothing and emotional support.
