Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Firefighter remains in serious condition after 40-foot fall while battling huge Harlem blaze
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 2, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 2, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A firefighter is still in serious condition after he fell 40 feet through a shaft behind a Harlem apartment building that erupted in flames on Friday afternoon.
Eight other people, including three more firefighters, also sustained injuries during the massive fire that partially engulfed the six-floor building.
The FDNY said it responded to the call about a fire at 529 West 145th St., between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway, around 2:40 p.m. on Friday. It took more than 200 firefighters and other emergency workers around four hours to extinguish the six-alarm inferno. The FDNY is still investigating the fire’s cause.
Fire officials described a chaotic scene in which flames could be seen escaping from the windows of the building’s second floor, where the fire began. The flames rapidly spread to the third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors, FDNY Chief of Operations Kevin Woods said at a Friday press conference.
Woods described a “labor-intensive” and “physically demanding” battle to contain the flames.
“These old buildings have many many voids. When fire got into these voids, when it got into the sixth floor, it started blowing out of the top-floor windows again,” Woods said.
The firefighter who fell was transported to Harlem Hospital, where he remains with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Four people, including the three other injured firefighters, were transported to Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center while another person went to Weill Cornell Medical Center. Three other people refused medical attention.
The Red Cross did not immediately respond to questions about how many residents were displaced by the fire.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Tagged
public safety
manhattan
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NJ Gov. Sherrill: Election is secure, noncitizens taken off voter rolls
The governor made the comments in the October edition of "Ask Governor Sherrill" on WNYC.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 27, 2026 at 7:42 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 27, 2026 at 11:14 p.m. ET
Ex-NYPD officer again faces murder charge in George Washington Bridge shooting
The charge against him was upgraded following an “extensive investigation,” the DA’s office said.
By
Samantha Max
News
Ex-NYPD officer again faces murder charge in George Washington Bridge shooting
The charge against him was upgraded following an “extensive investigation,” the DA’s office said.
By
Samantha Max
Former NYC buildings boss helped reopen mayor's favored restaurant despite health violations
By
David Brand
1 killed, 4 others injured at Elizabeth, NJ vigil shooting
By
Catalina Gonella
Police arrest man in Queens stabbings that ended with officer shooting woman
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .