CHELSEA, Manhattan (PIX11) — A massive third‑alarm fire tore through a long‑abandoned building on Seventh Avenue early Sunday morning, sending thick smoke billowing over the Chelsea neighborhood and prompting a large FDNY response.
Neighbors said they woke to chaos just after 6 a.m.
“Seventh Avenue is loud, but it was louder than normal,” recalled resident Jenn Ott, who lives next door. “I looked out of my window and saw plumes of smoke coming from the other side of the building.”
Ott told PIX11 News that the building had been vacant for decades, marked by fines and clear signs of trespassers. Firefighters evacuated her building as a precaution against heavy smoke and falling debris.
FDNY Deputy Fire Chief Anthony Arpaia said the blaze started on the first floor and quickly spread to the upper levels. “The cause is still undetermined at this time,” he said. Arpaia confirmed no civilian injuries, but two firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling intense flames and pulling down copper flashing to reach hidden fire pockets.
In all, 63 units and 192 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene. Witnesses reported hearing explosions as the fire tore through the structure.
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“I felt and heard an explosion,” said Camelia Entekhapifard, who lives behind the burned building. She captured cellphone video showing heavy smoke and flames pouring from the top floors. “It was so scary,” she said.
Fire crews spent hours extinguishing hot spots. Officials said the structure remains unsafe as investigators work to determine what sparked the blaze.
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