Two Dead, Several Hurt in Pre-Dawn East Flatbush Apartment Fire, FDNY Says

A fast-moving fire tore through a six-story apartment building at 1693 Nostrand Ave. in East Flatbush early Saturday morning, killing a man and a woman and sending several others to local hospitals, according to the FDNY. The blaze erupted just after 4 a.m., shattering the early morning quiet as neighbors on nearby blocks reported seeing smoke pouring from upper-floor windows.

Firefighters from Battalion 40 arrived on scene within minutes to find flames shooting out from the third floor. By sunrise, a crowd of displaced tenants and anxious relatives had gathered on the sidewalk, some wrapped in blankets as the smell of smoke lingered in the air. ‘We woke up to sirens and people yelling outside,’ said Cassandra Murray, who lives across Nostrand and watched as rescue crews pulled residents from windows. ‘It was chaos.’

EMS confirmed that at least five people were treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries at Kings County Hospital. Fire marshals were still working Saturday morning to determine the cause of the blaze, but officials said it appeared to have started in a third-floor unit.

City housing records show the rent-stabilized building holds dozens of families, many of whom are now being assisted by the Red Cross and local community organizations. By noon, city crews were boarding up scorched windows as NYPD officers kept the block closed between Beverly Rd. and Tilden Ave.

This is the deadliest residential fire in East Flatbush so far this spring. Local officials are expected to visit the site later today to meet with survivors and address next steps for displaced residents.