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Union: Fatal Brooklyn Fire 'Byproduct' Of Cuts

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- One woman was killed and another critically injured in a fire at a four-story Brooklyn apartment building.

Just about everyone was asleep when the 3-alarm fire erupted on the second floor of 1142 Lenox Road at 6:03 a.m, officials said. It took about 130 firefighters a little over an hour to bring the blaze under control.

The victim's nephew talks to 1010 WINS' Stan Brooks about how he tried to wake up everyone and get them to safety

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Claudette Nicholas, 70, was pronounced dead in Brookdale Hospital after she was found in the living of a second floor apartment.  Another woman, also in her 70s, was treated for smoke inhalation and is in stable condition.

The Red Cross is helping about 50 people who have been displaced by the fire.

Also on Friday, the public relations firm for the Uniformed Firefighters Association released a statement calling the fatality in Friday's fire a "byproduct" of recent FDNY staff reductions enacted by the city.

"Today, one person lost their life, another is in critical condition and seven firefighters are hurt and countless are homeless in the wake of FDNY staff reductions mandated by the mayor," UFA President Steve Cassidy said.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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