133 W. 90th Street.
By Joy Bergmann
Frightened residents of 133 W. 90th Street could be heard yelling “Help me!” as smoke filled the high-rise building Tuesday morning, according to a video posted on the Citizen app.
Four Injured in Two-Alarm Apartment Fire @CitizenApp
133 W 90th St 6:18:46 AM EST
FDNY tells WSR the fire started around 6:14 a.m. and was reported to be in a 10th Floor compactor room, before smoke spread to “numerous” other floors of the building, part of the Wise Towers NYCHA development.
FDNY said, “One elevator in the building was out of service on arrival, a second elevator went out of service during operations.”
Seven people were injured and transported to area hospitals, according to FDNY: three people with serious injuries, three people with minor injuries and one firefighter with minor injuries.
Over 100 firefighters in 25 units responded to the blaze which was under control by 7:22 a.m., FDNY said.
In the video, one can see responders on the rooftop, breaking windows. Later, one hears someone yelling to inform residents gazing out of their open windows, “the fire’s out!”
FDNY says the cause of the fire is under investigation.
That is awful. I hope everyone makes a full recovery
While we don’t know the cause of the fire PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be mindful NOT to discard lithium-ion batteries with regular trash. When compressed or compacted they can ignite or explode.
I’ve meant to ask this each time a story is posted about a fire in the neighborhood (the sirens seem to be non-stop). This is the first time I’ve ever lived in an old building with no fire escapes. The fire ‘plan’ is to use the stairs to go to the first floor or to the roof, but what is the plan of action if a person can’t get out their own front door? 🙁
The roof is NOT a fire exit except in Hollywood movies, do not go there because unlike the movies there is not a fleet of helicopters available to rescue you. Your apartment legally has to have two means of emergency egress – either two sets of fire stairs or one set of stairs and a fire escape.
If you feel you can’t get out by either means stay in your apartment and do as 90th St Jeff wrote.
It’s a good question, especially if you were asking, as I think you were, what if the fire is in your own apartment and you are not able to get through to exit your own front door?!
I was more concerned about smoke/fire in the hallway and being trapped in my apt, but that does pose another question. What ‘does’ a person do if the fire is in their own apt? I know 3 people who were affected by fires in old apt buildings (separate incidents) so it has been on my mind lately.
If you cannot leave your apartment, keep your front door shut tight but do NOT lock the door.
call 911 and tell them your address, floor,
apartment number and the number of people in your apartment.
Seal the doors to your apartment with wet towels or sheets, and seal air ducts or
other openings where smoke may enter.
Open windows a few inches at top and bottom unless flames and smoke are
coming from below. Do not break any windows.
If conditions in the apartment appear life-threatening, open a window and wave a
towel or sheet to attract the attention of firefighters.
If smoke conditions worsen before help arrives, get down on the floor and take
short breaths through your nose. If possible, retreat to a balcony or terrace away from the source of the smoke, heat or fire.
Thank you Jeff
For the info I just learned alot I am one of the tenants along with my husband that was trapped in our apartment I am so scared I can’t sleep I cry cuase I don’t know when this will happen again we don’t want to move we lived here for 8 years but this wasn’t the first time it happened this time was the worst thank you for the info I will do this
The data I gave was taken directly from the final section of this official statement from the New York City Fire Dept.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/fire_prevention/fs_guides_notices/appendix_1_fire_safety_guide_part_ii.pdf
Thank you Jeff, I’ll keep all these tips in mind. I hope if the situation arises that I’d be able to stay calm enough to follow through.
I talked to a tenant who described a nightmare scenario early in the morning smoke filled hallways miracle nobody died..