Two firefighters were injured – one who barely escaped with his life – during a raging three-alarm blaze in Harlem on Sunday morning, officials said.
Flames were traced to the kitchen of unit 3B at 625 W. 138th St., spreading quickly to other floors, according to the FDNY.
All 55 of the building’s residents were forced to find new digs, but fortunately none of them were hurt, officials said.
High winds blew flames wildly within the building, temporarily trapping one firefighter in a fourth-floor apartment, battalion chief Chris Lennon said.
“The room lit up quickly and the firefighter sent out a mayday over his radio. Thank God he had on all his gear properly,” Lennon said.
“He’s a real good kid. He made his way out, through the heavy flames into the hallway. He burnt the tops of his ears and his neck but other than that he’s going to be OK. “
Another firefighter was injured when he slipped on the ice outside.
More than 140 firefighter showed up to help douse the flames, which took almost two hours to bring under control, officials said.
“My father and I heard the screaming around 7 this morning,” said displaced building resident Aida Rodriguez, 33. “I thought it was kids, you know, fighting or something. But we saw smoke in the hallway so we left. The fire department was in the building already. They were pounding on doors, telling people to get out.
“All I care about are the pictures of my Mom,” the fourth-floor resident added. “She died recently. Everything else I can replace. I just hope they survived the fire.
Fifth-floor resident J. J. Judge thanked a neighbor’s cat for waking him.
“I heard the neighbors cat screaming around 7. I opened my door and saw heavy smoke in the hallway,” said Judge, a 62-year-old bartender.
“I pounded on my neighbors doors and yelled, `Fire! Let’s go!’ And then I went back into my apartment and out onto the fire escape.”