NEW YORK — More than a dozen people were hurt early Wednesday as a fire engulfed an apartment building in New York City's East Village.
According to WPIX, firefighters were called to First Avenue building about 1:45 a.m. Authorities evacuated people from five buildings and closed the nearby East Side Community School.
At least 17 firefighters and three others were taken to area hospitals for treatment, WABC reported.
Most of the firefighters had minor injuries, including smoke inhalations. A few had heat exhaustion. The three residents also had minor injuries.
Authorities are investigating what caused the blaze.
Officials told WABC that the fire was difficult to fight because flames had spread to a section in the rear of the building that had partially collapsed. It was not safe for firefighters to access, WABC reported. Because of the danger, firefighters were allowing the flames in that small area to burn itself out, but kept it from spreading to other areas.