A huge fire broke out in a Manhattan apartment on the Upper West Side and 170 firefighters responded to what ended being a four-alarm blaze.
The fire began at 509 Amsterdam Avenue but spread to a neighboring building. according to NBC New York, "The fire started on the third floor of 509 Amsterdam Ave., then got into a shaft and shot up through the fifth floor, then spread to the building next door, no. 511, FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard said."
On the ground floor of 509 Amsterdam Avenue is Jacob's Pickles, while 511 Amsterdam has E's Bar. The FDNY responded around 6 p.m., and it took nearly three hours for the firefighters to control the situation.
Crazy fire on the UWS 84/ Amsterdam @NYPDnews and @FDNY on the scene. Seriously hope no one is hurt. @NY1 @westsiderag pic.twitter.com/TkklGjBuAF
— Jess Bridgman (@JABridgman) February 24, 2017
#Fire on West 85th if anyone needs video. @WNBC @WCBSTV pic.twitter.com/i7UmuLMd3p
— Danielle Lynn (@DaniLynn3312) February 24, 2017
PIX 11 reports, "Two employees who worked at E's Bar under the building warned residents just when the fire started." Ralph Green said, "We smelled what I said right away what was an electrical fire because you can just smell wires burning. We ran outside, saw what was coming it was coming from the roof, Brady got the keys." They also grabbed an extinguisher and ran into the building, telling residents to leave.
Another resident told WABC 7 about a neighbor frantically trying to find his pet, "He was like looking for his cat and trying to pour water on his armoire that was completely up in flames." E's Bar bartender Brady Byrnes said, "He was just like, 'My cat, my cat!' and he ran back towards the apartment but the door was locked. 'My doors locked, my doors locked.'.. I kicked the door to try to get it open but it was red hot, we couldn't get it open."
Honored and proud to call these three heros my colleagues. There was a fire in our building and these three men ran up and knocked on the ap pic.twitter.com/ybK1JS6fIY
— e's BAR (@EBarNYC) February 25, 2017
These two amazing men are responsible for saving the lives of the residents of two buildings on the UWS. I am so honored to have them in my pic.twitter.com/dpwGV1tyCC
— e's BAR (@EBarNYC) February 25, 2017
An elderly woman suffered minor injuries, as did six firefighters.
Jacob's Pickles has relocated their popular brunch business to Maison Pickle:
The building next to JP unfortunately suffered a fire. The JP team is fine! We are thinking of our friends next door!
— Jacob's Pickles (@JacobsPickles) February 25, 2017
Jacob's pickles brunch menu will be available at our sister restaurant, Maison Pickle 2315 Broadway (84th and Broadway) .. Doors open 9am
— Jacob's Pickles (@JacobsPickles) February 25, 2017
The fire is still under investigation.