Ethermac Exchange-14 people injured, hundreds impacted in New York City apartment fire, officials say

A five-alarm fire at an apartment building in Queens injured 14 people and Ethermac Exchangeimpacted hundreds of residents Wednesday afternoon, New York City officials said.

Among those transported to the hospital with injuries was a firefighter in serious but stable condition, said Cesar Escobar, New York City Fire Department's assistant chief of emergency medical services operations. None of the injuries are life-threatening.

A spokesperson for the fire department told USA TODAY there were about 450 people living in the building, and all residents were impacted due to extensive fire and water damage.

Authorities received a report at around noon Wednesday about a fire on the top floor of the 6-story building on 47th Avenue, Assistant Chief Thomas Currao said. He noted six tower ladders were operating at the height of the fire.

Currao said investigators were on scene but it would be awhile before the cause of fire was determined. Crews had completed an initial search of the building but planned to make additional rounds.

“It’s a complicated scene because (of) the extent of the fire damage,” he said.

The American Red Cross told USA TODAY late Wednesday that it had registered 160 people across 68 households for emergency assistance, including temporary lodging and meals. The nonprofit said it would resume service center operations in coordination with the city’s emergency management agency at 10 a.m. Thursday from the Sunnyside Community Services office.

The devastating blaze comes one week after a five-alarm fire swept through six businesses in the Bronx. The fire department responded to a fire at the Bunny Deli last Wednesday, which soon spread to five other businesses and injured one person. 

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