SOUNDVIEW — Seven people were hurt — one seriously — when a blaze erupted on the first floor of a Croes Avenue apartment building Friday morning, an FDNY spokesman said.
The fire broke out about 6:30 a.m. and filled the hallways of the four-story building at 1098 Croes Ave., near Watson Avenue, with thick black smoke at, witnesses and fire officials said.
"The smoke was black. You could not see nothing. I woke up everybody, my brother, my sister, my niece. I was running, yelling, 'Get out! Get out! Fire!'" said Alima Zunonu, 40, who lives on the second floor.
"We took the stairs down. You couldn't see in front of you. I just held onto the railing."
One person was seriously hurt and taken to Jacobi hospital, an FDNY spokeswoman said. Four firefighters were also taken there and treated for minor injuries, the spokeswoman added.
Three civilians suffered minor injuries but refused medical attention at the scene, officials said.
About 106 firefighters who responded to the scene brought the blaze under control by about 7:50 a.m., according to the FDNY.
