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Fire officials say a cigarette in the back bedroom caused flames to break out around 5 a.m. in a three-story house near the intersection of 93rd Street and 97th Avenue.

A mother, two children and a grandmother who lived on the top floor are among the five victims who sustained serious injuries in the fire.

"Two children were brought out of the house. One of them was in respiratory arrest, not breathing," said EMS Deputy Chief Howard Sickles. "Another sibling was in serious condition from the super heated air and smoke inhalation."

"I was crawling up the stairs. It was zero visibility," said FDNY Lieutenant Mike Fitall. "I felt something and didn't know what it was. I felt her arm and I knew it was a victim."

The father of the family was also taken to the hospital, but with less serious injuries.

Neighbors say they are lucky the flames did not spread beyond the single home.

"They are very friendly people, very wonderful people. You know, when I found out it was them, it's sad," said one neighbor. "Although it's unfortunate, the fortunate situation is that none of the other houses went on fire."

Officials say the fire started on the second floor. Two families on the middle floor managed to get out safely.

"I was sleeping. I saw the brightness through the glass door on the balcony in the back, the glass was cracking. So I stood up to look and the fire was outside the living room," said building resident Oswaldo Barroso through a translator.

Firefighters are being credited with helping this bad situation from becoming worse.

"Without the tremendous efforts of Ladder 142, 143 and members of the 51 battalion, the outcome would have been much more tragic," said FDNY Deputy Chief Paul Ferro

The Red Cross has taken the four people who lived on the second floor to temporary housing. All the residents of the other houses were back in their homes by midday.