A fire tore through a luxury Greenwich Village apartment building on Wednesday after an ‘explosion’ on the sixth floor.
Plumes of smoke billowed from The Hamilton at 60 East 9th street after the blast at around 5.45pm.
Forty-four FDNY vehicles raced to the scene and hoisted fire fighters on to the roof to tackle the blaze from above.
Nearly 200 fire fighters and EMTs responded to the situation. It is not yet clear how exactly the fire was started or if anyone has been hurt.
Stretchers were seen being brought in to the building but has not emerged.
An FDNY spokesman could not give further details on Wednesday evening.
‘It’s a developing situation, so far there are no injuries reported but it is developing,’ they said.
The entire building was being evacuated on Wednesday night. A source inside earlier told DailyMail.com the explosion happened on the sixth floor and said fire crews were trying the flames.
It is understood to have occupied the entirety of the top floor – which is spread over two wings – and the building’s attic.
Fire fighters were seen punching through windows on the top floors of the building to allow some of the heat to escape.
Crowds cheered and gasped as glass from the upper windows shattered. The smell of burning materials wafted in to office buildings surrounding the area.
Fire fighters on the ground extended the safety perimeter numerous times as they continued to work at the scene on Wednesday afternoon.
The 8th street subway station which services the N, Q, R, and W lines, was closed shortly after the incident as was Astor Place which services the 6 train.
Apartments in the building range from $525,000 studios to two-bedroom units costing $1.25million.
Initial reports indicated that the blaze may have started in Famous Famiglia Pizza next door.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4648824/Explosion-Greenwich-Village-apartment-building.html#ixzz4lLf7TjPS
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