7 injured including firefighters as crews battle 5-alarm Bronx apartment fire
More than half-a-dozen people including firefighters suffered injuries and dozens of New York City residents have been displaced as firefighters battle a fire that broke out at a building early Friday.
The New York Fire Department reported about 1:45 a.m., the agency responded to a 5-alarm blaze in the Bronx.
According to a post on X, NYFD reported arriving crews found fire in the ceiling above the building's top floor, between the ceiling and the underside of the roof called the cockloft − what the agency described as "an open area for the entire length and width of the building."
"This building is about 200 feet wide, about 100 feet deep, and we had fire throughout that cockloft," NYFD wrote. "Initially, we had fire companies inside conducting searches, removing people and attempting to fight the fire. The fire had too much headway."
The department reported the fire "was extremely dangerous" for firefighters, so fire officials removed them from the building to continue tackling flames from outside.
"We're using tower ladders to extinguish the rest of the building, and we're continuing with that operation," the agency posted about 8:45 a.m. ET.
Hundreds of firefighters have responded to help extinguish the blaze, officials reported, who have been battling "a heavy wind condition that advanced the fire."
5 firefighters, 2 civilians suffered injuries in Bronx fire
So far, the department reported seven people suffered minor injuries in the blaze: five fighters and two civilians.
The agency also reported "heavy fire" destroyed the all the apartments on the building's top floor and burnt through the roof.
"The wind did play a part in spreading the fire through the cockloft,” Chief of Department John Esposito said.
FDNY Fire Marshals are on scene investigating the cause of the blaze, the agency reported.
The Red Cross also responded to the scene to assist displaced residents, the NYFD said, and NYC Emergency Management was also on scene.
This is a developing story.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.