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The American Red Cross is helping over 100 people after an overnight fire at an apartment building in Mount Vernon.
Flames shot of out of the top floors of the large building at 30 Cottage Ave. ““I got my family out, I ran upstairs, told my parents (who) live a floor above me,” said resident Erick Espinal. “We stayed in the building for at least 10-15 minutes, just telling everybody, “Fire! Fire! Get out! Knocking on doors.”
The fire started in a top floor kitchen, according to the Mount Vernon Fire Department. The flames got out of control and spread to the cockloft, the space between the ceiling and the roof. The entire building of more than 100 units had to be evacuated.
“They found heavy fire coming out of the 7th floor on (the) Cottage Ave. side,” said Chief of Operations Juan Peralta. “There was also two victims at the window where they needed rescue. They put the aerial up and they have a mother and daughter — they took ’em out by the ladder through the window.”
That mother and daughter are being evaluated for injuries. However, police say there were no significant injuries reported. “I don’t think it’s gonna be home anymore,” said Espinal. “Not with this kind of damage.”
Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said the city has contacted about 50 churches, which will be sending over its clothing ministry and food.
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Ida Siegal, Jessica Cunnington and Ethan Harp
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