9 people injured, including 4 firefighters, in Manhattan fire: FDNY
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) – Nine people were injured, including four firefighters, after a 6-alarm fire ripped through an apartment building in Hamilton Heights.
“The fire rapidly extended to the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth floor,” stated Kevin Woods, Chief of Operations FDNY.
A firefighter at Harlem Hospital was in serious but stable condition Friday evening. Officials said he fell out of a window in the stairwell.
“During the overhaul, I was backing down the stairs and stepping right into a window and then down 40 feet of a shaft behind the building,” stated FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker.
Kamara lives on the second floor of the burned building located at 528 West 145th St.
The Same floor where the fire originated at around 2:45 in the afternoon, according to officials.
“I was at work, 8:30-4:30 when my nephew called me. Auntie, Auntie, there was a fire in your building, and I started rushing. I told my director, “I have to go,” said Kamara.
Anais Martinez also got a call at work and a video of the building in flames from a family member.
“I zoomed in, and I was like, Oh my God, that’s my building,” said Martinez.
She lives on the sixth floor. Her dog was still inside Friday evening.
“On our side, there was no fire; it was on the other side, but there was a lot of smoke, and I’m just concerned he would’ve inhaled all of that, and I am also scared that he got really nervous and got a panic attack.”
The Red Cross is also on the scene helping out families.
“40 units in this building. Over 40 families are impacted,” Said Adriano Espaillat- U.S. representative -NY 13th congressional district
“The other firefighters had minor neck, back, leg injuries. We had civilians suffered from chest pain, shortness of breath, and the other three suffered from minor injuries, smoke inhalation,” said Mike Fields, Chief of EMS
In addition to injuries and displaced families, the blaze damaged a beauty salon on the first floor where these women work.
“Everything is damaged, we’ve got everything damaged,” said Paulina
“ We don’t know what to do. Look at us,” added Sana.