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Flames broke out just after 2:30 a.m. on the top floor of a six-story, 120-unit building at 2686 Colby Court in Gravesend.

The fire was brought under control about an hour-and-a-half later.

"We started an aggressive search, a truck company went in, they found one victim right away," said Acting Division Chief Martin Ford.

"The first victim was conscious, semi conscious," said Firefighter Nicholas Shelse. "We then asked if there was anyone else in the apartment. She said there were two other occupants in the apartment."

Three people, who are said to be in their 70s and 80s, were taken to Coney Island Hospital in critical condition. Two of the fire victims were not breathing when they were transported from the scene, but their conditions have been upgraded to stable and they have been transported to Jacobi Medical Center.

The victims had to be carried down six flights of steps through heavy smoke conditions to be brought to safety.

"[Another firefighter] was holding back the fire, but there was a lot of fire there," said Shelse.

Six firefighters suffered minor injuries, mostly from smoke inhalation. Four other people were treated on the scene.

"I ran out of the apartment. Banged on a few neighbors doors. Let them know what was happening," said one building resident. "And then we were outside for a good two hours. After this, they said we could go back to our apartment, but now my whole apartment is flooded. So now I either contact the Red Cross or stay with friends."

"The bedroom was on fire, smoke, I mean fire was coming out of the bedroom into the hallway, so it was a very bad condition," said New York City Fire Department Acting Division Chief Martin Ford.

Fire investigators believed the fire was accidental.