One young woman (inset) clutched her face in horror. (Benny J. Stumbo)
A lightning strike during a morning thunderstorm yesterday set a six-story Brooklyn building ablaze, but no residents were seriously hurt.
Tenants barely escaped as thick black smoke poured from their building at 665 New York Ave. in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. One young woman (inset) clutched her face in horror.
FDNY officials said it appeared lightning struck a grate over a rooftop vent at about 10 a.m.
It took more than 200 firefighters four hours to extinguish the seven-alarm blaze.
“I heard the lightning crash. It was so loud. My kids saw it and ran to me crying,” said resident Rochelle Collymore. “I said, ‘Run! Get out of the building!’ ”
A total of 52 people, including 40 firefighters, EMS workers and one Red Cross worker, were treated for smoke inhalation and exhaustion, officials said.