A Manhattan apartment building erupted in flames Tuesday morning, with fire shooting from the upper floors and roof of the multi-story complex on the Upper West Side.
The New York Fire Department said it responded to the fire at 8:49 a.m., announcing, “The FDNY is operating at a 3-alarm fire at 201 West 107th Street in Manhattan.” By 9:12 a.m., the department upgraded it to a four-alarm blaze.
Thick black smoke billowed into the sky as debris rained down onto the sidewalk from the building, which is believed to contain 40 units across six floors. The incident followed a separate case in which an ICE agent reportedly shouted a chilling order before shooting a woman five times.
The fire reportedly started around 8:20 a.m. and quickly caused the left side of the building to collapse. Flaming debris fell onto the street, including a large piece that dropped next to a fire engine. NBC New York’s chopper footage showed the flames creeping closer to firefighters.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. CBS News reported one injury, though that has not been confirmed by officials.
Authorities urged people to avoid the area and advised vulnerable residents to close their windows to avoid inhaling the toxic smoke.
Notify NYC, the city’s official emergency alert system, warned of smoke and traffic delays at the scene.
The initial three-alarm response brought 140 firefighters and EMS personnel. It’s unclear how many more joined after the fire was upgraded.
Firefighters were seen on the roof and scaling the sides of the building as they worked to contain flames pouring from multiple levels. No additional details have been released.
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