A firefighter at the scene (Photos by Michelle Deal Winfield)
By Michelle Deal Winfield
Residents were forced to flee their apartments when a fire broke out at a five-story building on Friday morning.
The blaze began at 238 East 24th Street at around 3:45 a.m. on the fourth and fifth floors, and soon smoke filled the air for blocks.
As firefighters fought to control the blaze, one resident was in front of the building in tears, wondering how she could salvage her clothing and valuables. The building’s owner was at the scene comforting residents concerned about their belongings. A couple visiting a relative said the woman’s cousin and his fiancée lived there but were vacationing in New Hampshire during the holidays.
One of the firefighters at the scene commented, “We were lucky here. Most of the residents were away on vacation. No one was hurt.”
After firefighters vented the roof; the fire was located and shortly before 5 a.m., it was extinguished. A spokesperson for the FDNY said the cause was still under investigation. Over 100 firefighters had responded to the fire.
