Two adults also died in the fire, which ravaged a city-owned building in New York overnight

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Six people, including four children, were killed on Wednesday when an overnight fire ravaged an apartment in a city-owned Harlem building, fire and police officials said.

Firefighters, who were called at around 1.40am, moved aggressively into the flames and thick smoke and found a man and a woman, as well as two girls and two boys ages three to 11, in bedrooms of the fifth-floor apartment, according to the fire commissioner, Daniel Nigro. The victims, all believed to be family members, were pronounced dead by emergency medical technicians.

Television reports showed neighbors standing in a circle and praying outside the Frederick E Samuel Houses.

“As the fire was burning I was hearing one of the little girls screaming,” fourth-floor resident Eric Allen told the New York Post. “They were beautiful kids.”

Abdul Salaam, 25, told the Post that he saw the flames from the street and called 911.

“I heard glass breaking, kids yelling,” said Salaam. “They were clearly in fear for their lives.”

FDNY (@FDNY) When they reached the 2 rear bedrooms, they found 6 occupants of that apartment deceased, 4 children and 2 adults- #FDNY Commissioner Nigro earlier this morning from the scene of an all-hands fire at 2441 7 Ave in Manhattan. https://t.co/8ZVLBu9jxa (Photo Cred: @nycemergencymgt) pic.twitter.com/9JDByK9mxm

One resident said that he and his 75-year-old mother, who live on the fifth floor, fled down a fire escape.

Several people suffered minor injuries when the building was being evacuated.

