NEW YORK (WTXF/AP) - An overnight inferno tore through a five-story apartment building in Manhattan's Upper East Side, killing one person, and injuring 12 civilians and firefighters.
Now, firefighters have extinguished it, but are still putting out hotspots.
The fire was reported at about 3:30am in a building at 324 E. 93rd Street in the Yorkville neighborhood.
FOX station WNYW reported firefighters arrived at the old building in just four minutes. The first floor was already engulfed. Then, flames shot up all floors and through the roof.
Some people in the burning building ran out onto the cold streets in their pajamas.
In fact, WNYW reported a man was seen hanging from a fifth floor window when one of New York's Bravest, Jim Lee, put himself on the line and propelled that man up, onto the roof to safety. Then, moments later, that lifesaving rope was incinerated.
"They lowered me down to the ground and he got medical attention," Lee said. "I told him to stay calm and when we got down, I said, `I hope you enjoyed the ride.' He sort of smiled and he was thankful."
Fire department officials say one person from the building was killed. Four others have minor injuries, and a fifth has serious injuries. Seven firefighters suffered minor injuries.
High wind fought against firefighters. It sent burning embers onto nearby buildings. Also, the age of the building hurt crews' efforts because it simply burned.
Authorities don't yet know how or exactly where the fire started.
The fire forced the closure of 93rd Street between First and Second avenues. First Avenue is closed between 91st and 94th streets.