9 Hurt as Windswept Blaze Rips Through Manhattan Apartment Building
9 Hurt as Windswept Blaze Rips Through Manhattan Apartment Building

Seven firefighters, one police officer and one civilian were hurt in a massive, wind-swept blaze at a century-old apartment building in upper Manhattan Friday afternoon.

Most of the roof of the six-story building at West 144th Street and Broadway in Hamilton Heights also collapsed in the fire, which sent fireballs of debris raining down on the street and a thick wall of black smoke shooting into the skyline shortly after it broke out on the top floor around 3:15 p.m.

More than 200 firefighters were called to the 39-apartment building, which was occupied when the fire broke out. They searched the floors to make sure everyone was out — even rescuing at least one dog — and that there were no reports of missing tenants. Officials initially said the building was unoccupied and under renovation.

Firefighters were still putting water on hot spots into Friday night, and authorities said there was a chance the 100-year-old apartment building could collapse because of heavy fire and water damage throughout the structure.

Authorities said that the blaze was fed by chilly gusts pulsing through the tri-state Friday evening; initially authorities were worried the flames could jump to other buildings in the area, but those fears have been averted.

It’s not clear what caused the blaze. There was a sidewalk shed outside the building as a precaution while crews made repairs to a damaged facade, but it wasn’t clear Friday if construction had begun or if it played any role in the massive blaze, NBC news.