A ferocious five-alarm fire on Staten Island injured 29 people early Thursday morning, authorities said.
About 200 firefighters rushed to the scene at 205 Chestnut Avenue in Rosebank after getting a call just after 1 a.m.
'At this point we have a total patient count of 29: 11 civilians, 18 firefighters - all ranging from serious to minor,' Brian Norton, FDNY spokesman told the Daily News.
Nearly everyone harmed in the flames was taken to the hospital though no injuries are considered life-threatening.
Authorities kept increasing resources committed to putting out the blaze throughout the morning. It went up to second-alarm at 1:15, third-alarm at 1:17, fourth-alarm at 1:28 and fifth-alarm at 3:42.
The fire spread to neighboring buildings. But by 6:30 it looked as if the worst was over.
'We are close to being under control,' Norton said.
The Staten Island Advance reported that a man was seen tossing two small children from one of three, 2-story townhouses that were destroyed.
Anthony DiSimone, who caught one kid, said the children were shaken up but appeared to be all right.
Firefighters eventually saved the man as well.
The cause was not immediately clear.
With News Wire Services
mwalsh@nydailynews.com
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