NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) – Fire tore through a Brooklyn home early Saturday, killing seven children from an Orthodox Jewish family and leaving two other people in critical condition, authorities said. Authorities believe the fire was caused by a malfunctioning hot plate left on for the Sabbath.

“This is the largest tragedy by fire that the city has had in seven years,” New York Fire Department Commissioner Daniel Nigro said during a Saturday morning news conference.

FDNY: 7 Children Killed In Brooklyn House Fire

Police identified the children as Eliane Sassoon, 16; Rivkah Sassoon, 11; David Sassoon, 12; Yeshua Sassoon, 10; Moshe Sassoon, 8; Sara Sassoon, 6; Yaakob Sassoon, 5.

The children’s mother, 45, and her 14-year-old daughter managed to escape the flames through a second-story window, police said.

The woman was taken to Jacobi Medical Center, while the teen was taken to Staten Island University Hospital, CBS2’s Ilana Gold reported. Both suffered burns and smoke inhalation and are listed in critical condition, Nigro said.

PHOTOS: Brooklyn Fire Kills 7 Children | Funeral For Children Killed In Brooklyn Fire

Firefighters received a call at 12:23 a.m. about the blaze at a single-family home on Bedford Avenue between avenues M and L in Midwood, Brooklyn.

Neighbor Andrew Rosenblatt said he called 911 after he heard cries for help.

“I was up in the back room on the computer and I hear screaming from a child, ‘Mommy, mommy, help me’” Rosenblatt told CBS2’s Matt Kozar. “It’s devastating. You never expect it to happen so close.”