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BOROUGH PARK (WPIX) —
At 9:37 p.m., the Fire Department of New York responded to the blaze at 1866 47th Street near Lawrence Avenue in Borough Park.
Five people -- four children and their 71-year-old babysitter -- were transported by Hatzollah to local hospitals.
One of the young victims, a 3-year-old girl, was taken to Maimonides Medical Center, where she is listed in critical condition. She was later transported to the burn unit at Staten Island University Hospital.
Witnesses say the girl and the three other children in the home were patricipating in a holiday ritual -- lighting a menorah.
"The menorah must have tipped over and the house started burning," one witness told PIX News, "Three of the children were taken out by a neighbor and one little girl was left in the house and the Fire Department came and got her out."
Deputy Fire Chief William Tanzosh said to PIX News that firefighters had to go through thick smoke, which spread throughout the house, in order to rescue the trapped girl.
"[There was] a lot of smoke. The first engine pulled up and they were met at the door by neighbors who said there was a in the back room," Tanzosh said. "They crawled in before the line [firehose] was stretched and one of the firefighters found the baby -- the 3-year-old, I should say -- and pulled her out."
Unconfirmed reports also say the fire started on the first floor of the three-story brick home.
Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze.
According to the FDNY, the other four victims are in stable condition. The names and ages of the victims were not immediately known.
Nafatali Schwartz, who lives next door to the now damaged home told PIX News the home belongs to the Friedman family.
Wednesday was the sixth night of Hanukkah. The eight-day Jewish holiday ends on Friday.
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