Upper East Side fire erupts on roof of building in NYC
A three-alarm fire on New York City's Upper East Side sent plumes of black smoke into the sky on Friday as people in the neighborhood reported hearing an explosion.
3 firefighters suffer minor injuries
It happened at a six-story apartment building at 305 E. 95th St., between Second and First Avenues, in Manhattan.
The FDNY said they were called to the building just after 10 a.m. for a report of a fire on the roof. It quickly escalated to a three-alarm fire with over 40 units and 170 members, including EMS workers, officials said.
Videos showed the bright orange flames and thick, black smoke shooting from the roof and into the sky above. More videos showed firefighters on the roof as the flames billowed out of the structure.
The fire spread to the building's cockloft and three penthouses before it was contained, FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief James Canty said.
The NYC Office of Emergency Management advised people nearby to close their windows because of the smoke and said to expect traffic delays in the area.
According to the City Department of Buildings, there was a partial stop-work order from 2015 for a cellar apartment that was illegally constructed. It's unclear if it's connected to the fire.
Canty said the cause of the fire is under investigation and that three firefighters suffered minor injuries.
"I heard people screaming, 'Get out, get out'"
The Red Cross is assisting families who no longer have a place to call home.
"I forgot my medication and everything. Everything I own is upstairs," said 80-year-old resident Bienvenida Rodriguez. "I lost everything up there. Forty-five years. I don't want to move anywhere."
People in the neighborhood said they heard an explosion when the fire started.
"The entire building shook. I actually thought something, like a truck, drove into the building, or even an earthquake," resident Anna Neverova said.
"It was just a boom, an explosion," Rodriguez said. "When I look, there is fire, so I ran downstairs again and I took my dog right away. I opened the door and I started screaming, 'Fire, fire, fire.'"
"I was in a light sleep, and I heard a boom, like a loud explosion," resident Devan Amabile said, "and then I heard people screaming, 'Get out, get out,' and I just got up and ran out the front door."
"I was working. I could've just stayed on a call, but I heard people scream 'fire' and I just ran," Neverova said.
Rodriguez called 911.
A spokesperson said inspectors were called to the scene Friday after the fire for a structural stability inspection. Gas has been shut off in the building, and there's still no telling when residents will be allowed back into their apartments and what they'll be able to salvage.
All the residents in the building were able to get out safely, though, officials said. Rodriguez, like many, is just grateful she's alive and will be able to celebrate her 81st birthday next week.