February 23, 2024 MANHATTAN, New York – A fire on Friday claimed the life of one person and left 17 others seriously injured was said to be caused by a lithium-ion battery and determined by FDNY Fire Marshals.
The heavy 2 alarm fire ripped through a Hamilton Heights apartment building spreading into the hallways and floors above leaving some residents trapped where they were seen clinging to windows in chilling footage provided by eyewitness Michelle Pardis who lives across the street.
“On the top floor in the back you can see all these people like waving out of the window, I don’t know if the smoke was too much but they were on the window sill, and they were trying to escape, but it’s all the way on the top floor and someone got out of the window.”said Michelle Pardis.
“I saw one person, I guess they couldn’t hang on for long and they fell to the ground.” said Pardis.
According to the FDNY, Firefighters responded around 2 p.m. and arrived within minutes to battle a fire that broke out on the third floor of the building on St. Nicholas Pl, near W 149th Street in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.
“The department performs one rope rescue per year on average.” said FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens. Firefighters performed at least three rope rescues during the blaze, as multiple people were seen on fire escapes upon FDNY arrival.
Five victims are in critical condition, a total of 18 people were injured and at area hospitals. The person who was seen in the video is reportedly one of those in critical condition.
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