At least four people were hospitalized after a Red Hook apartment building fire Sunday morning, including a man who fell two stories after he climbed out a window to escape the blaze.
The fire broke out around 6:30 a.m. on the fourth floor of the Red Hook West houses, trapping residents who lived above it, a fire department official said.
Rufino Peralta, 54, attempted to escape by rappelling down from his fourth-floor window with a makeshift rope made from a sheet, but fell two floors to the scaffolding below.
Peralta was taken to Lutheran Hospital in serious condition. His wife was rescued from the apartment by firefighters and sustained only minor injuries.
At least three other people were taken to local hospitals with non-serious injuries and several more were treated at the scene.
The Fire Marshall is investigating the cause of the fire.
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