Toaster sparks fire in Washington Heights building

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Firefighters battled a residential fire in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan, January 8, 2018. (FDNY)

Hundreds of firefighters are battling a big fire in a residential area of upper Manhattan on Monday.

The fire broke out at 775 Riverside Drive in Washington Heights a soon grew to what the department calls a "7-alarm" fire. That means at least 200 firefighters from multiple engine and ladder companies responded.

Fire marshals believe the fire started in a kitchen when a woman was making toast and quickly spread to higher floors through an old dumbwaiter shaft.

The FDNY tweeted that at least 14 people have been hurt. Their injuries are described as not life-threatening.

Red Cross teams came to the neighborhood to help affected residents.