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A three-alarm fire broke out in the morning on Friday, August 15 on the roof of a six-story building on the Upper East Side, injuring three firefighters and drawing more than 170 emergency responders to the scene.
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The blaze erupted at approximately 10:04 a.m. at 305 East 95th Street, near Second Avenue. FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief James Canty said the flames originated on the roof before spreading into the “cockloft”—the concealed space between the top floor ceiling and the roof—and then into three penthouses located on the top floor of the building.
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Firefighters arrived within minutes and quickly worked to contain the fire, which had threatened to spread to adjacent buildings. Crews were able to confine the flames to the original structure, a feat Chief Canty credited to their speed and coordination.
“They did a real good job,” Canty told reporters at an afternoon press briefing. “They operated hard, worked quickly, and were able to contain the fire to the original building, which is a good feat on a day like today.”
Temperatures were in the high 80s during the operation, prompting concerns about heat exhaustion for firefighters wearing heavy protective gear. Canty said the heat contributed to the FDNY’s decision to escalate the response to a third alarm to allow crews to rotate in and out more frequently.
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Roughly 40 FDNY units responded to the call, alongside EMS. The three injured firefighters sustained minor injuries, and no civilian injuries were reported. The fire was brought under control within about an hour.
Although early speculation suggested a possible basement gas buildup, Canty confirmed the fire began on the roof. The cause is still under investigation, and fire marshals are working to determine what sparked the blaze.
No residents of the building were injured, though the extent of property damage—particularly to the penthouse units—was not immediately clear.
Following the incident, building residents told media outlets they had felt an explosion before the fire broke out.
Here’s a statement we received from the Red Cross following the incident:
“After the fire on East 95th Street in Manhattan on August 15, the American Red Cross has registered 18 households (29 individuals) for emergency assistance, such as temporary lodging and financial assistance. Our Disaster Action Team also provided care items to impacted residents, such as cleanup kits, comfort kids, snacks, water and pet supplies.
“Any residents impacted by this fire who need help with their recovery and have not already connected with the Red Cross should call 1-877-RED CROSS (877-733-2767) and select Option 1.”
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