About 60 firefighters responded to a fire in a second-floor apartment at 185 West End Avenue (69th street) on Friday night around 9:15 p.m. No one was injured in the blaze and it was under control by 10:06, FDNY tells us.
A resident of the building told a dramatic tale of firefighters breaking down doors in the building as they sought to put it out.
“Fire was on 2nd floor. It seems a couple went out to walk dog, left candle burning, wind blew curtain into candle. I live on 3rd floor of this big building , 30 or so stories high. I heard huge commotion in my hall. Firemen were hacking at door of an apt. on my floor. I screamed: “I have the keys! The people are away. I’m taking care of their cat this weekend.”
Firemen said: too late. They hacked until they broke down door. This apt. wasn’t the source of fire. They then ran down one flight.
Seems they broke down 5 doors all together, including the one where the fire was, on 2nd floor. Fire extinguished.
Smoke filled my hallway, 3rd floor. We couldn’t go down, were sent back into our apts.
As soon as firemen let me, I went out into hall again. Cops helped me search for the cat in apt. where they broke door on my floor (3rd). After one hour of a number of cops, plus I and another neighbor searching, pulling out things all over the place, a cop found cat hiding under a cluttered area, under computer table. Thank goodness! On my watch, I didn’t want that cat lost ! Police were exceptionally nice, considerate of me, neighbors, cat. I was in touch with the cat owners, in Montauk for weekend.
Downstairs, it looked like every fire truck in NYC was in front of bldg. Many neighbors had congregated in lobby, some perhaps before the smoke got so bad. Others returning home, and couldn’t get up to apts.
Staff members were called into the bldg. from wherever they were. One came from Yankee Stadium with his son. They were all terrific, helping out. Handymen were securing all doors with new temporary locks. A night to remember!”
Thanks to Daniel for the photo.
Glad there was no major fire.
I live on W.70th Street near Central Park. Is it it just me, or do fire trucks and firemen periodically appear in disproportionately huge numbers for not huge incidents? In the last year, there have been several occasions where the block was crammed full with 5 or 6 big trucks and dozens of firemen – you would think there was a roaring inferno on the block – and it turned out there was… a gas leak. Or someone smelled smoke that turned out to be nothing.
Certainly a quick, appropriate response to these incidents is a good thing. But we’re talking heavy artillery to swat a fly here. Why? Were I of a more cynical nature, my guess would be one word: union. But that couldn’t be the explanation, so what is?
Are you kidding. I was in a bar on 52nd street where a patron passed out. Two huge fire engines came over and an ambulance. Are the firemen so bored that they have to bring fire engines to medical emergency? This is crazy.
Richard – it may not have been a “major” fire, but this wasn’t a small grease fire either. Fortunately, it happened during a time of day when people are generally home and awake, but I live directly across the street (also on the second floor) and there were massive flames in the window – the apt was completely ablaze. We watched the entire thing from our terrace/bedroom window. There is also a scaffolding around the building basically adjacent to the second floor that could have caught fire if the flames came out enough. Windows were smashed through and there was a ton of smoke – it made its way across the street and into our apartment, as well as the lobby and first floor. Additionally, as per the account of the person above, they didn’t originally know where the fire originated or traveling to, since the tenants weren’t home. So the firefighters had to go door-to-door to figure it out.
So even though it wasn’t a BIG fire, it could have been big if it hadn’t been contained – and I think the response was appropriate.
Wow!! Building staff responded to call for assistance even though off duty.
Like that would never happen in the building where I live. Super is always MIA. Works only 9 – 5 Mon – Fri. if you can ever find him.
Don’t put a $50 or a Benjamin in his hand — well, I guess your on your own.