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Manhattan high-rise fire injures dozens

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

12:55 PM EDT, March 28, 2008

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Authorities were investigating a fire in a high-rise apartment building on Manhattan's Lower East Side that seriously injured three residents, including two people who may have tried to use an elevator to escape.

The three-alarm blaze erupted Thursday evening on the third floor of the 26-story building on Grand Street. The flames engulfed just one apartment, but the dense, black smoke seeped through the high-rise. It took firefighters about two hours to bring the blaze under control.

Two firefighters were hospitalized as a precaution, though as many as 28 were treated for minor injuries. Three residents were hospitalized. Two were in critical condition, and a third was seriously hurt but expected to survive, the Fire Department said. Twelve others had minor injuries.

Two of the badly injured victims may have tried to use an elevator to escape the building, only to have the lift open on the same floor as the fire, FDNY Deputy Chief James Daley said.

On the 18th floor Naomi Pena huddled with her children in a back room with the windows open. Smoke spread through their apartment before they were evacuated down a dark staircase about a half hour later, Pena said.

"It was hard to breathe in there," said her 7-year-old daughter, Elisha. "I'm glad we got out."

Camillo Correia said he came home to find his apartment ablaze, with flames shooting out the window.

"I looked up and I couldn't believe my apartment was on fire," the 31-year-old said.

Daley said two firefighters made mayday calls after becoming disoriented in the burning apartment, but they were able to escape.

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