By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER EAST SIDE — A basement fire forced the evacuation of tenants at an East 89th Street apartment building Tuesday.
Fire broke out in the basement of the five-story building at 350 East 89th St. and First Avenue shortly after 10 a.m. and was under control shortly after 11 a.m., according to the FDNY.
Four firefighters suffered minor injuries and two residents were also treated for minor injuries on the scene, fire officials said.
At first, Peyton Craig, 27, said he dismissed the blaring fire alarms, thinking that another resident had pulled them as a prank.
Craig then realized the fire was real and scrambled out of his fire escape soon after his fifth-floor apartment started filling up with smoke.
"I got dressed, grabbed my passport, grabbed my iPod and got out," Craig said.
After reaching safety, Craig thanked firefighters for their quick response.
"No one ever thanks them," he said.
The investigation is ongoing, fire officials said.
