Explosion rocks New York as thick black smoke surrounds Manhattan neighborhood
Videos show bright orange flames and thick, black smoke shooting from a building's roof and into the sky above.
A fire broke out after an explosion rocked New York city in the United States on Friday, sending plumes of thick black smoke into the sky.
The incident took place at a 7-story apartment building on the upper east side at 305 East 95th Street, between 2nd and 1st Avenues, in Manhattan, reports CBS News.
The fire service said they were called to the building just after 10am for a report of a fire on the roof. It quickly escalated to a 3-alarm fire with over 40 units and 170 members, including EMS workers, officials said.
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Videos show bright orange flames and thick, black smoke shooting from the roof and into the sky above. Videos also show firefighters on the roof as the flames billowed out of the structure.
The fire spread to the building's cockloft and three penthouses before it was contained, said New York City Fire Department Deputy Assistant Chief James Canty.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and that three firefighters suffered minor injuries, he added.
People in the neighborhood reported hearing an explosion when the fire started.
"The entire building shook. I actually thought something, like a truck, drove into the building, or even an earthquake," a woman said.
