Two dead after residential fire in New York; more than 100 firefighters in combat – El Diario NY

Two men died when a fire destroyed a house shortly before midnight on Friday in Harlem, Manhattan (NYC).

According to FDNY and police officials, the fire started on the 2nd floor of a four-story home on W. 132nd St. near Malcolm

I feel sorry for them, but I’m glad God put his hands on me. I would have been the third one dead

Firefighters found two men inside the apartment. One died at the scene and the other after being transferred to Harlem Hospital, reported Daily News.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation Saturday morning. The two deceased victims remained unidentified at this time. Additionally, two tenants of the building were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation and other minor injuries.

“I was at the hospital when one of them died,” said Jesus Sierra, 66, who was hospitalized after inhaling smoke while escaping from his ground-floor apartment. “I feel sorry for them, but I’m glad God put his hands on me. I would have been the third (dead).”

Sierra was lying in his bed unaware that a fire was burning above him until a firefighter knocked on his door. “When I opened the door I felt a rush (of smoke),” he recalled. “(The firefighter) pushes me and says ‘Don’t you know what’s happening?’”

The Hispanic Navy veteran left his apartment through the backyard and saw firefighters cleaning the building with a hose. “There was black water everywhere,” he said. “The firefighters had brought a large ladder into the backyard and were breaking windows.”

The other hospitalized person discharged was a 32-year-old man. More than 100 firefighters fought the flameswhich were extinguished shortly after 1 am today.

After being released, Sierra was allowed to return to his apartment to gather his belongings. “I’m in shock,” he said, recalling his near-death experience. “Can you imagine coming home, going to bed, and then having a fire? “Now I have to find a place to stay.”