A devastating blaze erupted in a six-story walk-up in Manhattan early Monday, claiming the lives of three individuals and leaving over a dozen others injured, according to officials.
At around 12:30 a.m., nearly 200 emergency responders converged on the apartment building located on Dyckman Street in Inwood. They were met with the harrowing sight of residents desperately attempting to escape via the fire escape.
“This was a particularly severe fire, and unfortunately, it resulted in numerous injuries,” stated Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.
In total, at least 14 people sustained injuries, with five victims currently in critical condition, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The fire initiated on the building’s first floor and rapidly engulfed the structure, affecting eight apartments in its path, officials reported.
“This building has a single stairway, which the fire consumed from the first floor all the way up to the roof,” explained FDNY Chief John Esposito, highlighting the challenges faced by both the residents and the firefighters.
Roughly 100 people have been displaced as a result of the blaze.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
