A Christmas morning fire caused by “a hoarding situation” ripped through the top floor of a five-story Manhattan apartment building, forcing several families to spend part of the holiday out on the sidewalk.
Fire officials said 145 firefighters responded to the 11:45 a.m. blaze at 409 69th St., with four firefighters suffering minor injuries.
“There was smoke in the building and my superintendent was knocking on my door to get out,” said fourth-floor tenant Hazel Brown. “He was quick. He was fast.”
“I’m alive,” she added. “That’s the best gift I could’ve gotten.”
The 10-apartment building was evacuated due to the fire, with officials bringing in an MTA bus so tenants could stay warm inside.
They were allowed back into the building around 5 p.m. to gather their belongings. The Red Cross offered the displaced tenants hotels rooms for the night, and at least five residents accepted the offer as of 6 p.m.
Others, including Brown, are staying with friends or family.
One firefighter described the cluttered top-floor apartment where the blaze was sparked as “a hoarding situation.”
Deputy Assistant Fire Chief Fred Schaaf said the cluttered apartment also posed a challenge for firefighters trying to douse the flames.
“Picture an apartment filled with debris up to your waist level that would cause difficulty maneuvering in the apartment,” Schaaf said. “As of now, no occupants have been found.”
He said both apartments on the fifth floor and the two below them sustained damage.
“As first responders, our firefighters are on duty every day of the year,” he said. “You don’t get a day off. Christmas Day everybody’s working. I’m working. It’s just part of what this job is all about.”
The cause was not immediately clear.