1 resident, 6 firefighters hurt in blaze at West Brighton apartment complex

Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimoResidents gather outside 1077 Castleton Ave. in West Brighton after an all-hands fire.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- One woman was hospitalized with serious injuries and six firefighters were treated for minor injuries after an all-hands blaze this afternoon in the West Brighton Houses apartment building.
The fire broke out on the top floor of the eight-story building at 1077 Castleton Ave. at approximately 3:10 p.m. When firefighters pulled up to the building, they could see flames shooting out three of the windows on the eighth floor, according to Deputy Chief Andrew DiPadova of Division 8.
Between 20 and 30 units and 125 firefighters were called to bring the fire under control, which was accomplished at about 3:35 p.m.
The blaze broke out in apartment 8H, which is occupied by Lucille Dukes.
There were two people in the apartment with the woman at the time, but they managed to flee. Firefighters discovered Ms. Dukes by the door. She could be seen being carried out of the building in a stretcher, was evaluated by paramedics and transported to an area hospital.
Her official condition is unknown, but a source said her injuries were, in fact, life threatening.
"The whole projects love Ms. Dukes," said Callie Givens, a neighbor from another building in the complex. "She's just a lovely person. Just a beautiful individual. There's nothing to say about her but beautiful."
Emergency officials evacuated the seventh and eighth floor of the building, though the blaze is believed to have been confined to Ms. Dukes' apartment.