A massive four-alarm blaze broke out at an Upper West Side high-rise building late Thursday afternoon, injuring 21 people including two babies and one young child, officials said.
Nearly 170 firefighters battled the fire that broke out in an apartment on the third floor of the 33-story building on West 59th Street and 10th Avenue at about 5 p.m., a fire department spokesman said. Flames could be seen shooting out of the building’s windows.
Seventeen civilians were injured in the blaze–two critically, four with potentially serious injuries and 11 with non-life threatening injuries, according to the spokesman.
Three of the injured civilians were children–a 7-year-old girl who was in cardiac arrest and later revived, a one-month old and a 1-year-old, police sources said. The 7-year-old girl, who was found on the 21st floor, is said to be in good condition and expected to recover. The other children’s conditions were unclear Thursday evening.
One firefighter was severely burnt and taken to Cornell University for treatment, with another 3 firefighters also sustaining non-life threatening injuries.
In a press conference on site, FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard said “We are still making our final searches around the building, a lot of people are sheltered in place. Some people are complaining of smoke inhalation, but we think everybody has been accounted for, but the operation does continue as we speak.” Leonard also attributed heavy winds in delaying rescue efforts.
At least nine civilians stood on the roof of the building waiting for rescue have been safely removed, according to Leonard.
A woman tweeted that she was trapped in her apartment during the fire.
“Fire in our building and we are trapped inside on 7th floor,” Shruti Kulkari wrote. “Can’t go down stairs. Smoke in the halls. Please pray for us.”
Residents above the third floor of the building were asked to stay inside as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.
A resident who lives next door to the apartment where the fire started said the woman who lives there managed to get out.
“I saw her in the lobby,” said the resident, who did not give her name. “She was completely covered with black ashes. I tried to have her go to emergency room, but she was concerned about the damage in her apartment. I ran downstairs, not sure how she got out. I am concerned about my friends in the building.”
A girl who lives on the sixth floor was seen crying because her puppy was still inside and she couldn’t go back to save him.
Another resident who was standing outside said firefighters didn’t allow him to get back inside his building.
“I can’t go home,” said Chunhui, 35. “They won’t let us in and FDNY said they are working. The smoke was really bad. I am worried about the people on the building; I can see people with their windows open to clear the smoke. This is insane before Christmas.”