A fire in Greenwich Village tore through a six-story apartment building on Wednesday evening and led to a firefighter being treated for minor injuries and two subway station closures as crews battled the blaze.
A spokesman for the FDNY said the blaze at 60 E. 9th St. in Manhattan started around 5:45 p.m. and drew 138 firefighters to the scene. There was heavy smoke on the roof of the building in addition to the fire.
One firefighter was treated for minor injuries, according to the FDNY, and 15 others underwent medical evaluations, along with one civilian, for possible injuries. An FDNY spokesman said the cause of the fire at the building, named The Hamilton, was not yet known.
Most of the 212 units sustained at least some water damage and several pets were rescued, CBS2 reported.
A woman named Michelle who lives on the third floor panicked when she couldn’t find Finnigan, her 4-year-old dog.
“I’m just so relieved, such a relief. I’m so happy,” she told CBS2 through tears. “I’m so happy and relieved that he’s OK. I was worried about the smoke.”
The Eighth Street/NYU subway station, which services the R and W trains, was closed after the fire started, as was Astor Place, where the 6 train stops.
A source told the Daily Mail that the fire department was called after an “explosion” was heard on the top floor.A source told the Daily Mail that the fire department was called after an “explosion” was heard on the top floor.
Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro praised the FDNY for holding the fire to one wing of the building and preventing more damage, NY1 reported.
Smoke filled the streets of Greenwich Village due to the fire, Pix11 reported. Pictures on social media showed onlookers watching from smoke-filled streets as firefighters battled the blaze.
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene advises closing windows and reducing outdoor activity when smoke is present. People with heart or breathing conditions such as asthma should seek immediate medical attention if they experience shortness of breath or chest pains from exposure to smoke.
Nigro told NY1 that officials were investigating if the fire started in a deli on the first floor, traveled up the shaft and into the area called the cockloft, which is similar to an attic. The fire might have then spread through the space between the cockloft and the roof.
Apartments in the building ranged from $525,000 studios to two-bedroom units costing $1.25 million, the Daily Mail added.
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