By Tuan Nguyen and Wil Cruz
DNAinfo Staff
EAST VILLAGE — Fourteen people, including 11 firefighters, were hurt during a three-alarm blaze that tore through an East Second St. building early Wednesday, officials said.
The fire began about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday in a first floor apartment at 21 E. Second St., FDNY officials said. It quickly spread into the second floor of the six-story building, forcing residents onto the street as firefighters took two hours to get it under control.
"Everybody was running, some by stairs, some by fire," said Juan Ramons, 45, a fourth-floor resident. "The fire just swallowed up the place. Fire and smoke everywhere."
Three civilians suffered minor injuries and refused medical attention at the scene, fire officials said. Eleven firefighters suffered minor injuries as well, six of whom were taken to New York Hospital, five of whom went to Bellevue Hospital, fire officials said.
None of the injuries were considered serious, officials said.
Still, residents had to suffer the loss of valuables.
"It's gone. Everything is destroyed," said Charles Martin, 62, another fourth-floor resident. "You've got to start over again, I guess."
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
The Red Cross was helping those affected to find new housing on Wednesday morning.
