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6 Alarms, 14 Injuries: Scenes From a High-Risk Fire on First Avenue Scenes From a High-Risk Fire in the East Village That Injured 14
(35 minutes later)
Smoke poured into the streets and residents were evacuated as crews worked to extinguish a fire in an apartment building in the East Village in Manhattan early Wednesday. Ari Spitzer woke up in his fourth-floor apartment in Manhattan around 2 a.m. on Wednesday to sirens blaring and the smell of heavy smoke.
After nearly seven hours fighting the six-alarm blaze, firefighters were pulled from inside the building over concerns that it may collapse. When he opened his front door, the hallway was so full of smoke he couldn’t leave. “I couldn’t even see,” he said.
“We don’t want to put our guys at risk anymore,” James E. Leonard, the chief of the New York Fire Department, said. As of 9 a.m., firefighters were still putting the fire out. He rushed to the fire escape, where the smoke was so thick he couldn’t see far enough to make his way to the ground. From there, fire crews helped him get down.
Firefighters were still on the scene as of 11 a.m., working to extinguish a six-alarm fire in a building in the East Village that began early Wednesday.
Fourteen people, 11 of them firefighters, were injured, officials said. None of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries.Fourteen people, 11 of them firefighters, were injured, officials said. None of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries.
After more than six hours of fighting the blaze, firefighters were pulled from inside the building over concerns that it may collapse.
“We don’t want to put our guys at risk anymore,” James E. Leonard, the chief of the New York Fire Department, said.
The fire broke out just before 2 a.m. at 188 First Avenue, a five-story building with eight apartments and a Japanese restaurant, Uogashi, on the ground floor.The fire broke out just before 2 a.m. at 188 First Avenue, a five-story building with eight apartments and a Japanese restaurant, Uogashi, on the ground floor.
Ari Spritzer, a 22-year-old man who lives in the building, said he woke up around 2:10 a.m. to sirens blaring and smelled smoke.
When he went to the fire escape, he said, “There was so much smoke I could barely see anything.”
The building was evacuated and some businesses were closed. Two nearby schools, P.S. 19 Asher Levy and East Side Community High School, were closed for the day.The building was evacuated and some businesses were closed. Two nearby schools, P.S. 19 Asher Levy and East Side Community High School, were closed for the day.
“There was a lot of smoke, and the fact that the streets were closed, it was just difficult to bring children into the area,” Chief Leonard said.“There was a lot of smoke, and the fact that the streets were closed, it was just difficult to bring children into the area,” Chief Leonard said.
Officials said they believe the fire began in the restaurant.Officials said they believe the fire began in the restaurant.
At 8 a.m., most of the fire was contained, a Fire Department spokesman said, but crews were still fighting flames in a structure behind the building that had partially collapsed. By 8 a.m., most of the fire was contained, a Fire Department spokesman said, but crews were still fighting flames in a structure behind the building that had partially collapsed.
Chief Leonard said he expected a “prolonged operation” as firefighters let the fire burn through the roof of the back building.Chief Leonard said he expected a “prolonged operation” as firefighters let the fire burn through the roof of the back building.
Mr. Spitzer said he was told it would be at least a day before he and his roommate, who was out of town, would be able to return to their apartment. Then he texted his roommate, “Our apartment was on fire see you in the morning.”