Thursday, July 7, 2016

6 people were hurt in a 3-alarm fire at a West Side apartment building in Manhattan, NY







Eyewitness News
Updated 25 mins ago
MIDTOWN, New York (WABC) -- Six people were hurt in a three-alarm fire that spewed smoke through a West Side apartment building.

The fire broke out in a second-floor storage room in the Silver Towers on West 42nd Street just before 7 a.m. Thursday.

The small fire was quickly brought under control, however smoke began filling the high-rise apartment building.

Six people were treated, all for minor injuries.

Firefighters searched the upper floors to assist residents who had not left the building.

Video of a couple being brought down an FDNY ladder from their fourth floor apartment (Courtesy: Travis Long)



West 42nd Street was closed for the fire department activity.

New York City Fire Department Manhattan Borough Commander Roger Sakowich described it as a minor fire. Electrical boxes in the equipment room quickly heated up and started emitting carbon monoxide; power had to ultimately be cut to eliminate the source of the carbon monoxide, he said.

Smoke spewed throughout the 60-story building. Four residents were brought down from their fourth-floor window via fire department ladder. One family on the 18th floor had to wait until the carbon monoxide levels dropped so they could leave their apartment.

Firefighters searched 50 apartments and all the elevator cars.

Six people were treated, including an 8-week old baby, who was taken to the hospital. Two firefighters were also taken to the hospital to be checked out.

The cause of the fire is not known.