At least four people, including a city firefighter, were seriously injured early yesterday in a blaze at an apartment building in Brooklyn that forced a 16-year-old girl to jump out of a third-floor window, the authorities and residents said.
The girl, whose name was not released, and her father, identified by neighbors as Dupree Corbett, 58, were in critical condition at Staten Island University Hospital, an official said. Another woman, Yasmin Butt, 40, was also in critical condition at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, according to her daughter.
Lt. John Galan, 44, was seriously burned while battling the fire and was admitted to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, the Fire Department said.
The cause of the fire, which started around 6 a.m. in Mr. Corbett's third-floor apartment on Ocean Avenue in the Midwood neighborhood and displaced six families, is under investigation, the Fire Department said.
Flore Soldjour, 18, said that she woke up shortly after 6 a.m. to the screaming of her neighbors in the six-story building, and the sounds of firefighters breaking down doors and telling residents to get out.
Junior Celestine, who lives in the apartment next to Mr. Corbett's, said that he tried to help the 16-year-old as he stood on a fire escape, but was unable to reach through the guards on her window. "I feel so bad," he said. "I tried to save her but I couldn't."
The girl jumped from a window that looks out on the building's backyard, which is paved with concrete.
A student who lives across the street from the building saw Mr. Corbett being removed by paramedics. "His back was completely burned," said Estelle Germain, 21. "He was crying hysterically and saying, 'Where's my daughters?' "
Mr. Corbett has been ill, several neighbors said. He lives in the apartment with his two daughters, they said.
It took Nabila Farhan most of the day yesterday to find her mother, Ms. Butt, who lived alone in the building. She finally found her at the hospital, where she was unconscious and suffering from smoke inhalation, Ms. Farhan said.
Several hours after the fire began, residents could still be seen huddled in blankets around the building.
Late yesterday morning, Ms. Soldjour sneaked back into the building "to get clothing, to take a shower, and hopefully enjoy my Thanksgiving," she said.
Of the displaced families, 11 people from three of the families were being housed in a local motel, according to Dalia Fernandez, a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross.
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