1 dead, nearly 2 dozen hurt after Queens fire spreads to 3 buildings, officials say

One person has died and nearly two dozen were hurt when a fire broke out in Flushing, Queens, on Saturday, officials say.

The fire was reported just before 10 a.m. on 41st Road near College Point Boulevard.

Officials say the fire started on the first floor of a two-story, wood-frame home in a row of five buildings. When firefighters arrived on the scene, two of the buildings were fully engulfed, and flames had extended to a third building, Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said.

"These buildings in this row of five ... they were built in 1930, so they're all wood. Wood-frame buildings," Woods said. "The walls are wood, the floors are wood, the roof is also made of wood, so fire travels very, very rapidly. Very difficult for us to get ahead of these fires and extinguish."

At least one resident was trapped inside the building where the fire started and had to be rescued from the second floor, officials say.

The fire grew to five alarms, with over 250 firefighters and EMS personnel responding to the scene. It has since been brought under control. Woods said the FDNY will remain on the scene "for quite some time" to monitor hotspots.

The FDNY said a 78-year-old woman who lived in one of the homes died from her injuries at the hospital. Her name has not yet been released.

At least 21 FDNY members were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, officials say. Woods said the injuries to firefighters included heat exhaustion, smoke inhalation, and minor sprains and strains.

Officials say the buildings suffered heavy damage, and multiple families have been displaced.

Once couple told CBS News New York in Chinese that they were grateful to have escaped one of the fire-ravaged homes, but they had to leave behind important documents, like passports and everything they've worked hard for since moving to the United States.