New York FIRE: Huge fire tears through Hamilton Heights – 170 firefighters on scene
NEW York has been covered in thick billowing smoke as a fire rips through a building in Hamilton Heights, Upper Manhattan.
The New York Fire department is currently at the scene in a bid to quell the towering furnace.
A witness on the scene, Andre Rivera, told Express.co.uk: “Okay so right now I’m looking at the fire from West 146 Street on Broadway, we still have heavy flames on the top two floors a ton of firefighters, probably four to five blocks worth of fire engines and all sorts of fire equipment on the scene.
“They are hitting it with towers, water towers - there’s heavy heavy smoke blowing eastward, massive crowds of people witnessing it.
“It also appears that the building might have been under renovation, there is a lot of scaffolding on the base of it.
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“But it primarily looks like the top three floors are on fire and there’s heavy flames going through the roof.
“The roof has completely gone and collapsed.”
Two firefighters have suffered non-life threatening injuries, according to the Fire Department New York (FDNY).
So far no injuries from inside the building have been reported and it is unclear how many people were inside when the blaze began.
It has been identified as a four-alarm fire in a rating system that only extends up to five.
Over 170 firefighters were reportedly rushed to the scene.
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The fire began at approximately 8pm GMT (3pm ET) inside the building located at 565 W. 144th Street and Broadway.
The billowing smoke could be seen rising far above the city from Central Park and as far away as New Jersey in social media posts.
New York City Emergency Management sent out an alert for smoke and traffic problems caused by the flames.
They said: “Expect smoke, traffic delays, and a presence of emergency personnel and vehicles in the area.
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“The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene advises avoiding smoke exposure from structural fires by closing windows while indoors and reducing outdoor activity where smoke is present.
“People with heart or breathing conditions such as asthma may be more sensitive and should seek immediate medical attention if they experience a worsening of their condition, shortness of breath, or chest pains.”
Others observed they could see the fire 80 blocks away.
As of 11:40pm GMT (18:40 ET) the fire has been put out - details of evacuations and further injuries are yet to be released.
