13 Injured In Fire At East Harlem Apartment Building

HARLEM, NY — At least 13 people were injured in a fire that broke out Saturday morning in an East Harlem apartment building, authorities said.

FDNY responded just after 9 a.m. to the call, which came from a fourth-floor apartment in a six-story building on East 120th Street near Pleasant Avenue.

Five civilians suffered minor injuries as the fire spread from the fourth to sixth floor of the building, an FDNY official said. Eight firefighters also had minor injuries as they fought the flames.

It took more than 130 firefighters to bring the fire undercontrol by 11:30 a.m. Three apartments were damaged by flames and several others suffered smoke damage, FDNY chief Kevan Brennan said.

Its cause is still under investigation.

Fire officials warned residents to expect emergency personnel, traffic and smoke in the area.

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene advisesdavoiding smoke exposure from structural fires by closing windows while indoors and reducing outdoor activity where smoke is present.