17 People Injured, One Critical, After Massive Blaze in Williamsburg

17 people were injured and a woman was hospitalized in critical condition, after a massive fire broke out at about 6:40 a.m. Monday morning, at an apartment building in Williamsburg, according to the Fire Department.

One hundred firemen, as well as Hatzolah members from Williamsburg, Boro Park, Flatbush, the Lower East Side and Crown Heights, were on the scene of the 2-alarm blaze, at 265 Penn St.

The fire affected both the first and second floor of the apartment building, and firemen needed to stretch multiple hose lines, which the fire department says is an arduous task.

“We were met with a large number of patients early on, and almost all at the same time,” FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Fred Villani said in a statement. “Once they were rescued by the firefighters, EMS personnel on the scene had to make rapid decisions on the severity of the injuries. One of the patients was critical and was immediately transported to the hospital by Hatzalah volunteers. We were lucky in that we are about half a block away from one of Hatzalah’s quarters, so we had plenty of help at the outset. FDNY EMTs and paramedics, as well as Hatzalah volunteers triaged the rest of the patients.“

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

All are asked to daven for the complete refuah of Rechil Breindel bas Hinda, b’soch she’ar cholei Yisrael.