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Residents Rescued From Roof After Fast-Moving Fire Breaks Out In West Hempstead

WEST HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Firefighters rescued several people from the roof of a burning building in West Hempstead on Friday.

As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, one woman, who had just moved into her first apartment, said she had to run up to the rooftop with no shoes or socks on after the fire broke out around 10:45 a.m.

Two children and an adult were treated for smoke inhalation.

Authorities said the blaze started in an upholstery store, then quickly spread to the apartments above.

"Now I've got to worry about all my stuff. I'm glad my kids are alright, my wife is alright, I'm alright, the people in the building are alright, you know, but we were sleeping so it was just pandemonium a little bit, you know, trying to get out of there," said one resident.

The man said he had no choice but to take his family up to the roof.

"(Hall: You went to the roof?) Yea, then we had to take the ladder down. We had to wait for the firemen to come aid us down," the resident added.

A small, white dog was also rescued from the building.

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