NEW YORK (AP) - New York City firefighters battled a raging blaze that broke out Thursday night at a building in Chinatown.
Fire department officials said they were called at about 8:45 p.m. to 70 Mulberry Street in Manhattan for a fire that started on the fourth floor of the building and extended to the fifth floor and through the roof.
One person was removed from the top floor by Ladder 1 “early in the operation” and two firefighters suffered minor injuries, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro was quoted as saying in a department Instagram post.
Videos and photos posted to social media show flames bursting out of windows and flowing heavily from the roof.
The building near Columbus Park was built in 1900, according to property records.
The fire comes ahead of the Lunar New Year, which starts Saturday. A third-floor tenant of the building, the nonprofit community organization CMP, closed early Thursday for the holiday. The building is also home to the Chen Dance Center.
Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted that the building is home to several nonprofits and a senior center, which he described as a “pillar to the Chinatown community.”
“I know the neighborhood is in shock tonight,” he tweeted. ”We’re going to help the community get through this.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.