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An 85-year-old man was killed and 10 other people were injured in a Bronx blaze Friday night that saw firefighters physically move a smart car that was in their way and tow a Jeep that was blocking a hydrant, officials said.

The two-alarm fire broke out in a first-floor apartment at 65 Jesup Place in Mt. Eden around 9:30 p.m. 

The octogenarian was rushed to Harlem Hospital but died from his injuries, police said without immediately identifying him.


  FDNY members were forced to move a smart car to battle the blaze. Christopher Sadowski/ NY Post FDNY members were forced to move a smart car to battle the blaze. Christopher Sadowski/ NY Post

Some of New York’s Bravest had to get creative when they found a white compact car was in their truck’s way — the four-man crew lifted the two-seater with their bare hands after jacking it up on its rear wheels, video and photos from the scene show.

The owner of the Jeep that was blocking a hydrant will get a criminal summons and could be fined up to $5,000, a source told The Post.

An unidentified man was rushed to Harlem Hospital in critical condition.

A 45-year-old man was taken to Bronx Health Care System and a 70-year-old woman was taken to Jacobi Hospital, officials said.

They were both in stable condition.

Three firefighters received treatment at local hospitals but were stable, the FDNY said.

Resident Richard Hagood, 61, lives on the 4th floor and said he only knew the man who died as “Birdman” because he fed the birds.


  Firefighters had to move a car that was blocking a hydrant, officials said. Christopher Sadowski/ NY Post Firefighters had to move a car that was blocking a hydrant, officials said. Christopher Sadowski/ NY Post

  The aftermath seen at 65 Jesup Place in Mt. Eden. Tomas E.Gaston The aftermath seen at 65 Jesup Place in Mt. Eden. Tomas E.Gaston

“He walked around with a bag of bird seeds feeding the birds and they would go inside his apartment with him,” Hagood said. “He was a hoarder. If he had his door opened, inside was dark because of the stuff inside.”  

Hagood was in his apartment when he smelled the smoke and heard people panicking, he said.

“I smelled the smoke coming through the pipes,” he said. “It was starting to pick up. It was coming slowly but surely but finally it started getting heavy.


  About 100 first responders rushed to the scene. Christopher Sadowski About 100 first responders rushed to the scene. Christopher Sadowski

“People were shouting, ‘Get out, get out, fire, fire. They were panicking,” he said. 

The hallway was filled with smoke so he went to the window.

“I went back to the window and the firemen took me out,” he said. 

There have been several complaints made to the building office about smelling smoke in the pipes coming from the dead man’s apartment, Hagood said. 

“The fire department was called several times but each time they came and checked his apartment, they found nothing and would leave,” he said.


  Residents of the five-floor apartment building were forced onto the sidewalk after the Friday night fire. Christopher Sadowski Residents of the five-floor apartment building were forced onto the sidewalk after the Friday night fire. Christopher Sadowski

Miguelina Fernandez, who lives next to the apartment where the fire started, said she was trapped in the building because her door caught on fire. Firemen took her out through a window too, she said.  

“I was so scared, I was just walking around,” she said. “I fell and hurt my knee.”

Correction officer Taraja Rooks, 46, moved into the building three months ago. She heard the smoke alarm and then people were yelling, “Get out, get out.”

“I came outside with my shirt in my hand,” she said. “The smoke was really thick and black. I blindfolded myself with my shirt. I don’t know how I got down these steps. I was crying. I couldn’t breathe.”

She saw EMT’s in the front of the building working on the man who died.

“They were pumping his chest,” she said. “I  just knew he was dead. They ran with him to the corner and took him away in the ambulance.”

More than 100 FDNY and EMS personnel were called to the blaze. The fire marshals are investigating the cause of the fire.

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