Firefighter seriously injured battling Hamilton Heights fire
NEW YORK — A firefighter was seriously injured Friday after falling about 40 feet while battling a building fire in Hamilton Heights.
According to fire officials, the firefighter, who was operating a hose line, was backing down the stairs when he stepped into a window and fell about 40 feet down a shaft behind the apartment building.
The firefighter received immediate medical care on the scene and was taken to Harlem Hospital in serious but stable condition, officials say.
"We were blessed today because we had the fire department's physician on scene, as well as the elite rescue medics who were at the location, so once the firefighters were able to bring our brother out, they were able to start immediate treatment and transport him to the hospital," said Chief Michael Fields, chief of EMS.
"Thank you to the men and women of the FDNY and to those incredible rescue medics for the work that they did today. When the mayday call was made, they rushed in without question, and we're so lucky to have them in service of this city," said Zachary Iscol, New York City's emergency management commissioner.
Mayor Eric Adams paid the firefighter a visit at the hospital Friday evening.
"He was awake and responsive, you know. He seems to be, you know, of good spirits," Adams said.
The injured firefighter's name has not been released, but officials say he has been on the job for three years at Engine 58.
9 injured in Hamilton Heights fire
The fire started around 2:45 p.m. in an apartment on the second floor of a building on West 145th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue.
Kevin Woods, chief of fire operations, says when crews arrived on the scene, heavy fire and black smoke were blowing out of the front windows, and the flames rapidly extended up to the sixth floor.
"These old buildings have many, many voids. The fire gets into these voids. And when it got up to the sixth floor, it actually started blowing out of the top floor windows again," Woods said.
The fire grew to five alarms with over 200 firefighters and EMS personnel responding, fire officials say.
In addition to the firefighter who fell, five civilians and three other firefighters were injured, but all of their injuries were considered minor, according to Michael Fields, chief of EMS.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Hamilton Heights fire displaces nearly 100 residents
The Red Cross said as of 10:20 p.m., they had registered 94 individuals from 34 households for emergency assistance, including temporary lodging and emergency financial assistance.
Resident TK Kamara feels lucky he wasn't home when the fire started.
"All I saw was flames, man. The whole building burnt down. Can't get in there, can't go in there. Everything burnt down. Everything. All I got is what I got on right now, literally," he said.
Iris Burdier was trapped inside with her niece's dogs.
"The fire department, they told me, 'No, you can't go out,' because everything was black. So I stayed in my apartment," she said.
Her nephew helped her to safety.
"She called me panicking, told me she couldn't get out, that the firefighters told her to stay in the apartment while they cleared out. When I got off the train here, she called me and told me she was outside already. I said, 'Thank God,'" Luis Valdez said.
"I'm happy that my family's alive, my dogs are live," resident Micaela Hatchett said.
"Grateful that everyone made it out safe," another resident said.
Impacted residents can call 311 or the Red Cross (1-877-RED-CROSS) for assistance.