NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A firefighter pulled a resident to safety in a daring rescue early Thursday morning from a massive apartment building fire on the Upper East Side that left one person dead.
The six-alarm fire broke out around 3:20 a.m. Thursday at a building at 324 East 93rd Street. Flames could be seen pouring out of windows and smoke billowing into the sky.
Residents scrambled to evacuate and some said they had to use the fire escapes to get out.
“I just woke up from all the fire alarms, everything was going off,” one woman said. “Opened the back windows and sparks and fire was flying. We got ready and got out.”
“The hallway was full of smoke so I went out on the fire escape and they came up and helped me down,” another man said.
One resident who was trapped on the fifth floor was saved by Firefighter Jim Lee using a lifesaving rope, something the fire department says is only used once a year or every few years.
Lee was lowered over the flames that were flying out of the building and was able to grab the man and pull him to safety.
“They lowered me down to the ground and he got medical attention,” Lee told reporters during a news conference at the scene. “I told him to stay calm and when we got down, I said, ‘I hope you enjoyed the ride.’ He sort of smiled and he was thankful.”
Lee said 15 seconds after he and the man reached the ground, the rope burned through. The man was taken to the hospital.
Two other firefighters were also hurt. The person who died was found on the third floor of the building.
Crews have extinguished the fire, but are still putting out hotspots.
First Avenue is closed between 91st and 94th streets while 93rd Street is closed between First and Second avenues.
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