CLAREMONT — Sixteen people were hurt in a Morris Houses apartment fire Tuesday morning, including two civilians and a firefighter who suffered serious injuries but were in stable condition, FDNY officials said.
The flames erupted in a fourth-floor apartment of 1309 Washington Ave., near East 169th Street, about 4:30 a.m., an FDNY spokesman said.
“Firefighters were breaking the windows," said Rene Muniz, 47, who lives in the building but was outside at the time of the blaze.
"Flames were shooting out. The firefighters were battling the wind, too. It was scary. It was like a movie. The flames were really big, like a couple feet high.”
Ricardo Cruz, 50, who lives across from the public housing complex, said he watched the rescue effort.
“Flames were real big," Cruz said. "They were coming out of the fourth floor and reaching up to the fifth floor ...The firefighters were on the ladders. They were breaking whatever they could with axes.”
Eight civilians were treated at area hospitals, including two people who suffered serious injuries, FDNY officials said.
A firefighter was also seriously hurt, but was in stable condition, while two colleagues were treated for minor injuries, officials said.
Five people received minor injuries but refused medical attention.
The fire was brought under control about 6 a.m., officials said.
Fire marshals were trying to determine what sparked the blaze, officials said.
