HELL FIRE ON UWS
A blaze broke out at an Upper West Side high-rise Thursday evening, injuring 21 people, including a 7-year-old girl who went into cardiac arrest, two babies and a firefighter who was badly burned, officials said.
Nearly 170 firefighters battled the four-alarm blaze, which began in an apartment on the third floor of the 33-story building on West 59th Street and 10th Avenue at about 5 p.m.. Flames could be seen shooting out of the building’s windows.
Seventeen civilians were injured — two critically, four with potentially serious injuries and 11 with non-life-threatening injuries, the FDNY said.
Among them was the 7-year-old girl, who was found on the 21st floor. She was revived from cardiac arrest and was said to be in good condition. A 1-month-old and a 1- year-old were also hurt, but their conditions were unclear.
One firefighter was severely burned and taken to NewYorkPresbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Three others sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The cause of the blaze was unknown.
“We are still making our final searches around the building. A lot of people are sheltered in place,” said FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard. “Some people are complaining of smoke inhalation, but we think everybody has been accounted for.”
Leonard said heavy winds delayed rescue efforts.
During the blaze, a woman tweeted that she was trapped.
“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 were asked to stay inside as firefighters battled the flames.
A resident who lives next door to the apartment where the fire started said the woman who lives there had escaped the flames.
“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.”
A girl who lives on the sixth floor was seen crying because her puppy was still inside.
Another resident standing outside said firefighters didn’t allow him to back inside his building.
“The smoke was really bad,” the resident said. “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.”