SCHENECTADY — A grandmother and two children were taken to the burn unit at Ellis Hospital this morning after sustaining injuries in a second-floor fire at 237 McClellan Street in the Vale neighborhood of the city.

Patrick Weekes, who lives in the downstairs apartment at 235 McClellan, said the fire started at about 8 a.m. He said he tried to help the second-floor occupants, but there was too much smoke. Firefighters then removed the inhabitants and the fire has been put out.

“I hear screaming and yelling and saw a lot of smoke,” Weekes said. “I tried to help but it was too hot and the smoke was too thick.”

An Ellis Hospital official said the victims include a 4-year-old boy, a 2-year-old girl and a 65-year-old woman. The boy is being transferred to Westchester Medical Center.

Investigators are still at the scene and do not know the cause of the fire.

The location is between Bradley and Becker streets.

By Caitlin Tremblay