9-year-old girl dies in Brooklyn fire

NEW YORK - A 9-year-old girl has died after a fire tore through a residential building in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn.

According to fire officials, the flames broke out Friday just before 5:30 a.m. on Howard Avenue.

The victim has been identified as 9-year-old Payton Thompson. Her family told FOX 5 NY that they had been planning a party to celebrate Payton's young sister's first birthday when the fire broke out while the family was asleep, quickly consuming all three of the building's floors.

Firefighters were able to get all the family members out of the home, but Payton was the last. Her uncle told FOX 5 NY that she was stuck in the back of the house and firefighters had trouble reaching her.

She died at a nearby hospital.

One firefighter suffered minor injuries battling the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.