A three-alarm blaze that tore through several floors and up through the roof of an apartment building in Harlem started in a hoarder's apartment, complicating efforts to contain the fast-moving blaze, authorities say.
Firefighters were called to 109 West 112th St. at about 5:15 p.m., and the fire quickly grew to three alarms, the FDNY says.
Fire officials say flames broke out in a fifth-floor apartment, then ripped through the sixth floor and into the cockloft. Flames and smoke could be seen shooting through the roof of the building.
"I was terrified, I was nervous because my husband was working on the third floor," said resident Yessenia Disla, who lives in the building's basement.
Officials believe the apartment where the fire started is home to a hoarder.
"We have an apartment we call a Collyers' Mansion, when a person has a lot of stuff," said Deputy Assistant Chief Mark Ferran. "It's extremely difficult to move through the apartment and it's extremely difficult to get to the seat of the fire. The whole apartment was basically on fire."
Neighbor Ryan Schauss said he didn't immediately think the fire was a threat.
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"I stayed in my apartment for about 10 minutes thinking it was a small kitchen fire, until I saw the smoke coming down the hallway," he said. "I couldn't even see."
The smoke spread upward and across the building, badly damaging or destroying six apartments. Officials said as many as 24 people were initially displaced.
Workers at a newly opened eatery on the ground floor were also mopping up after the blaze.
Red Cross said it was helping six families with emergency housing and other needs.
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