225 Firefighters Respond to Manhattan 5 Alarmer

On August 9, a five alarm fire at 1214 St. Nicholas Avenue, in the Washington Avenue section of upper Manhattan destroyed several buildings.

225 firefighters and approximately 50 pieces of apparatus responded to the alarm, received just before 5pm.

Smoke from the blaze could be seen across upper Manhattan and the Bronx. Firefighting efforts were hampered by the large amounts of paper and plastic products in the fire building.

Ten firefighters and 1 civilian were treated for injuries. Dozens of people from nearby and neighboring residential buildings had to be relocated. The cause of the fire, which appears to have started in a 99 cent store, is under investigation and believed to be suspicious at this time.