Video from the scene shows thick smoke rising from the roof of the red building in the Jackson Heights neighborhood. Everybody was panicking, all you see is the smoke, resident Edwin Martinez told CNN affiliate WABC. When you came out of the building, you couldn t see anything. it was just all gray.
Another resident, Kimberly Singhi, said she got scared, because everything went black. I grabbed my mom, I grabbed my dog and the pets we have, and we just ran out, Singhi told WABC.
FDNY continues to battle the fire from the outside. The cause and origin of the blaze will be determined by the fire marshal when they can get into the building, fire department officials said.
21 people injured in 8-alarm fire at an apartment building in Queens, New York
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Over 350 firefighters are battling an eight-alarm fire that tore through an apartment building in Queens, New York, on Tuesday.
A total of 21 people were injured in the fire, according to the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Gala. The injured includes 16 firefighters, two who suffered burns, and five civilians, according to Gala. None are facing life-threatening injuries.
The building houses around 150 apartments, according to Gala. About 240 people, or 90 families, have been displaced by the fire, Gala said. The Red Cross is on scene and assisting those families.
21 injured, including 16 firefighters, in Queens apartment building fire
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An eight-alarm fire tore through an apartment building in Queens Tuesday afternoon, leaving 21 injured, including 16 firefighters, and displacing more than 200 residents.
The fire broke out as four-alarm blaze on the top floor of the six-story building on 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights around 1 p.m. and quickly spread into the cockloft.
Approximately 400 FDNY members responded and continue to fight the ferocious fire.
Officials say the FDNY will be at the scene through the night and the next few days. When the units arrived, the door of apartment was open, there was an advanced fire, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said. The first units in were trying to make their advance, three of the members were burned. Thankfully the burns were not serious, although they have been taken to the hospital.