William Reid housing project (Seth Gottfried)
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Broken elevators in a Brooklyn building forced firefighters to trek a torturous 20 stories early yesterday to rescue an 89-year-old woman from her burning apartment, authorities said.
It took the rescuers an estimated 12 minutes to reach the woman as they lugged hoses and equipment — about 100 pounds per man — up the stairs to battle the flames in the East Flatbush housing project, according to FDNY officials.
The elderly victim was found in her one-bedroom apartment near the front door, indicating that she had tried to escape on her own, officials added.
Firefighters performed CPR on the senior while carrying her down the stairs to an ambulance.
“She was burned and also in cardiac arrest,” said Deputy Chief Michael Ajello.
The octogenarian was taken to Kings County Hospital in critical condition.
“The concerted effort of all the members on the scene undoubtedly saved the life of this victim,” Ajello said.
It took 75 firefighters from 15 units about 45 minutes to extinguish the blaze, which broke out at 12:22 a.m. at 728 East New York Ave. in the William Reid Apartments.
The lack of elevators proved a disadvantage because FDNY policy dictates that, for any blaze above the seventh floor, firefighters take the elevator to two floors below the blaze and approach on foot, said department spokesman Jim Long.
“You’ll also be a little more prepared because you won’t be spent,” he said.
The fire was sparked by an overloaded power strip in the woman’s bedroom, Long said.
A resident was treated for smoke inhalation and one firefighter suffered minor injuries.
After the blaze, NYC Housing Authority repairmen were at the building trying to determine why the elevators didn’t work, Ajello said.
“The elevators are not very reliable,” said resident Reginald Edward, 80. “It’s a bad thing because seniors aren’t capable of walking down lots of steps.”
The FDNY issued a “failure to maintain” violation to the Housing Authority, officials said.
NYCHA said in a statement that it had “no reports overnight about any problems with the elevators.” It also claimed that the elevators were damaged by the fire, and that both had been inspected in September.
There had been no complaints about non-functioning elevators within the last four years and no violations issued in the last seven years, according to the Buildings Department.
