At least 10 people, including eight firefighters, were hurt Friday afternoon as a fire sent huge flames billowing into the sky over Chinatown.
Crews said the fire quickly spread to apartments on the upper levels of the building on Mott Street.
People in the area told CBS2 they heard loud popping noises and saw people running out of a store on the ground floor.
ABC 7 reported that the fire started in a gift shop on the first floor of the building and quickly spread to the upper floors.
FDNY Assistant Chief of Fire Operations Thomas Currao said firefighters were met with heavy fire conditions in the front of the building.
"It was really for the efforts of the firefighters that came in quickly, and quickly stretched the lines, quickly got into the building, that mitigated any loss of life," Currao said.
The large fire was under control, but crews were staying on the scene to put out any small fires that may develop inside the building.
