Brooklyn building fire: Two dead, many injured as blaze tore through apartment — what we know

The fire broke out at 1693 Nostrand Avenue between Beverly Road and Cortelyou Road shortly before 7 a.m. local time. Firefighters arriving on scene encountered heavy smoke and smoke coming from the second floor of the mixed-use building, officials said.

According to ABC7 New York, both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Two other people were taken to nearby hospitals, with one victim suffering serious injuries and the other reportedly suffering non-life-threatening injuries.

Citizen NYC shared video of the incident on X, reporting that firefighters launched a rescue operation after receiving reports of trapped people, including those near the rear fire escape.

Residents who managed to evacuate described chaotic scenes outside the apartment complex when emergency crews arrived.

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Witness Rich Savaille told CBS News: “The flames were literally shooting out of the windows here, almost touching the trees. That’s how fast the flames were accelerating.”

“Luckily the fire department arrived within two minutes and managed to put the fire out, but it was crazy. It was really intense,” he added.

The fire was under control around 7:38 a.m., according to the FDNY.

News outlet amNewYork identified the deceased as a man and a woman. The outlet also reported that at least one other victim suffered serious injuries, while others suffered less serious injuries.

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After the flames were extinguished, emergency crews continued to search and secure the building.

Officials have not released details about the cause of the fire or whether there were functioning smoke detectors inside the building.

The fire remains under active investigation.