MANHATTAN — A roaring blaze ripped through an Upper West Side brownstone Saturday night, officials said.
The fire broke out on the top floor of the five-story building at 26 W. 85th St., near Central Park West, at 11:15 p.m., according to the FDNY.
Janice Hopkins Tanne, who lives nearby, said that the flames seemed to cover the entire width of the building.
"Flames were leaping up about 10 feet in the air and black smoke was billowing in the wind," she said.
"I closed our windows because of the smoke and to protect against possible sparks flying. From the smell I wondered if some sort of asphalt roofing or tar was involved."
Firefighters were able to bring it under control about a half-hour later.
There were no reports of injuries, fire officials said.
The cause is under investigation.
