FDNY responded to reports of smoke in Canarsie and began working to extinguish flames at a 2-story house on Avenue N Sunday afternoon.
The blaze was quickly upgraded to a 3-alarm fire.
At one point a commander noticed the condition of the building deteriorating and ordered crews to exit the building.
That’s when the second floor became engulfed in flames and collapsed trapping four firefighters.
Three of the firefighters were able to escape, but 31-year-old Timothy Klein couldn’t be reached by other FDNY members.
“It gives us great pain and sorrow to announce that New York City has lost one of its bravest, Timothy Klein,” Mayor Eric Adams said at Brookdale Hospital. “A six and a half years as a firefighter, 31-years-old, coming from a rich tradition of dad and other relatives who are firefighters.”
WATCH: Mayor Adams, FDNY officials hold update at Brookdale Hospital
Adams said there are still five firefighters who are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries and that crews are still searching for a 21-year-old man with autism who is unaccounted for who lives at the location.
“I cannot describe the heartbreak of the FDNY today to have lost a member doing what our members do best,” Acting FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said. “Putting their lives on the line to save others.”
A total of 33 units and 106 FDNY members worked to put out the flames.
Nine people in total were injured, according to the FDNY.
Eight firefighters were transported to local hospitals for their injuries. One resident was treated on scene and refused to be transported to a hospital.
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