A four-alarm fire tore through two homes in Fordham Thursday morning, injuring five firefighters and leaving more than a dozen residents displaced.
The fire started just before 8 a.m. in the basement of a home on Briggs Avenue before spreading to the neighboring house.
More than 200 FDNY and EMS personnel responded to the scene and brought the fire under control in about an hour and a half.
Officials say five firefighters were injured, including two who were seriously hurt. They were seen being taken from the scene on stretchers, wearing oxygen masks.
Deputy Assistant Chief Tim Keenan says the close proximity of the homes and their combustible exteriors allowed the fire to spread quickly, making it difficult for crews to contain.
The American Red Cross says it registered more than a dozen residents for emergency assistance and temporary lodging. The Department of Buildings issued a full vacate order on both homes.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.