1 dead, 12 injured in Upper East Side fire

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - More than 200 firefighters responded to a raging fire at a five-story apartment building on the Upper East Side on Thursday morning.

One person was killed and 12 were injured, according to fire officials.

The fire was reported around 3:30 a.m. in the building at 324 East 93rd Street in Manhattan's Yorkville neighborhood. The flames quickly spread throughout the building and were shooting out the roof at one point, sending burning embers onto nearby buildings. Some residents of the burning building fled into the streets in their pajamas.

A man stuck on the fifth floor was hanging out of his window when a firefighter on the roof rappelled down to rescue him.  About 20 seconds later, the wire was incinerated.

"I hope you enjoyed the ride," Firefighter Jim Lee said to the man. " He smiled and was thankful."

Firefighters extinguished the blaze but were still putting out hotspots several hours later.

Four residents suffered minor injuries, and a fifth had serious injuries. Seven firefighters suffered minor injuries.

93rd Street remained closed between First and Second avenues, and First Avenue was closed between 91st and 94th streets.

With the Associated Press