A New York firefighter and a civilian died Sunday in a Brooklyn home fire where a ceiling partially collapsed, injuring several other firefighters, authorities said.
Firefighter Timothy Klein, 31, had been on the job for six years and his father and other relatives were also members of the New York Fire Department, Acting Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said.
“I cannot describe the grief of the FDNY today to have lost a member doing what our members do best: putting their lives on the line to save others,” Kavanagh said.
This afternoon, NYC lost one of it’s bravest. Firefighter Timothy Klein died tragically while battling a 3-alarm fire in Brooklyn. We stand with our @FDNY family & all New Yorkers as we mourn this terrible loss. pic.twitter.com/GxJcIlBHt5
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 25, 2022
One person’s body was found at the scene, an FDNY spokesperson said Sunday evening. Earlier, the department said one person was missing after the fire, but a medical examiner will have to confirm the identity of the person found in the building.
Eight firefighters were injured in the blaze and another resident was slightly injured, the spokesman said. Klein was killed when the second floor of the building in the Canarsie neighborhood was engulfed in flames, knocking down the ceiling, officials said.
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Mayor Eric Adams mourned Klein’s death during a press briefing Sunday night.
“It gives us great pain and sorrow to report that New York City has lost one of its bravest,” Adams said.
Acting department chief John Hodgens said firefighters worked feverishly despite very difficult conditions to reach Klein but were unable to reach him in time.
Firefighters responded to the home on Sunday afternoon and found visible flames that grew into a three-alarm fire. More than 130 fire personnel were involved in the response, Newsday reported.
The FDNY said its most recent death in the line of duty was in February, when Jesse Gerhard, 33, collapsed at a fire station and died a day after responding to a fire in the Queens. His death was determined to be in the line of duty.
Please pray for fireman Timothy Klein, who lost his life, battling a Brooklyn fire.
My condolences to the Klein family and the entire @FDNY.
Please keep the five injured fire fighters in your prayers. Our Bravest put their lives on the line everyday. https://t.co/1hiQUXKIy5
— Michael Henry (@michaelhenry4ag) April 25, 2022
