HARLEM, NY — A fire in a Harlem left one person dead and forced others to hang off the building, where they were dramatically rescued by FDNY firefighters on ropes, officials said.
The blaze Friday afternoon inside 2 St. Nicholas Pl. left five people critically injured out of 18 overall, FDNY officials said.
The intense smoke and flames prompted many victims outside onto window ledges and fire escapes, including one who dangled off the building — as seen in video first reported by the New York Daily News — before he fell to the ground, said FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens.
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Firefighters performed three rope rescues, a rare action in which they rappelled off the building’s roof to grab people from its upper floors, Hodgens said.
“We usually have one of these a year, or two,” the official said.
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“Three times today, which as I said, very unusual.”
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FDNY officials provide an update on 2-alarm fire in Manhattan https://t.co/RRYtSWfTOM
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The fire sparked about 2 p.m. and quickly spread through the six-story building, FDNY officials said.
Firefighters found three victims unconscious, officials said.
One person died, although officials didn’t immediately have information on how that unfolded.
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