By Josh Williams and Heather Grossmann
DNAinfo Reporter/Producers
FINANCIAL DISTRICT — A fire ravaged the outside of a downtown office building Thursday night, sending workers rushing on to the streets to escape the smoke and flames.
Firefighters responding to a call before 6 p.m. found the second story of 45 Broadway engulfed in flames and workers at the law offices and financial firms housed there streaming out of the exits.
“We came down from the 14th floor after the alarm went off," said Raymond DelliColli, who works in the building. "The stairway was full of smoke and you couldn’t breathe or see."
“People were choking, there was a lot of panic.
A crowd gathered behind police tape to watch as the firefighters went through the building floor by floor.
"I was thinking 'get the heck out,'" said Matt Sherman. "I was pretty nervous until I made it to the last two floors.”