Metro

Girl, 17, killed, 5 hurt in Brooklyn fire

A 17-year-old girl was killed in a suspected arson early this morning when a blaze tore through an East Williamsburg apartment building.

FDNY officials found a suspicious gasoline can at 55 Harrison Place, though they’re still investigating what sparked the fire.

A woman who identified herself as the victim’s aunt said the young girl’s name is Sophie. Neighbors said she didn’t live in the building.

“We were all just together for Christmas,” the aunt said.

Five people were also injured at the two-alarm blaze at 55 Harrison Place after jumping 12 feet from their second-story windows, said FDNY officials.

“I had no choice, it was either jump or burn,” said Alex Ramos, 26, who leapt from his second-story apartment window after the blaze erupted at 4:30 a.m.

“I was sleeping and I heard a girl’s voice yell, fire!” he said. He was treated at Bellevue Hospital for injuries to his hand and heel and was later released.

Three firefighters were also injured, one with a burn to his hand, FDNY officials said.

It took firefighters only two minutes to arrive at the blaze after someone ran to a nearby fire house with a report of seeing flames, Mannix said.

People trapped on the second floor jumped to safety, while people on the third floor used the fire escape, Mannix said.

“The conditions were bad structurally. The stairs were compromised,” he said.

About 106 firefighters responded to the incident, Mannix said.

Additional reporting by Jessica Simeone and Tom Namako