Fire rips through empty building in Chelsea – NBC New York

A massive fire ripped through a building in Chelsea early this morning.

The fire at 216 Seventh Ave. burned on the first, fifth and sixth floors, according to the New York City Fire Department. ” Firefighters “operated from tower ladders to knock down the fire and conduct searches from the exterior due to unsafe interior conditions,” said Deputy Chief Anthony Arpaia.

The fire forced the closure of Seventh Ave. between 22nd and 23rd Streets Sunday morning.

Camelia Entekhabifard told NBC New York that she felt or heard what resembled an explosion. “It can be because the window shattered, or something major exploded inside. I’m not saying it was an explosion.
But you had the loud bang,” she said.

Four firefighters suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospitals. No one was inside the building. Neighbors tell News 4 that the building has sat vacant for about a decade.

The cause of the 3-alarm fire was still under investigation Sunday evening, the FDNY said.