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Firefighter Seriously Injured Battling Upper East Side Blaze

The fire was brought under control at 6:58 a.m.
The fire was brought under control at 6:58 a.m.
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DNAinfo/Chelsia Rose Marcius

MANHATTAN — A firefighter suffered serious injuries battling an early-morning blaze at a five-story Upper East Side apartment building Thursday, authorities said.

Two residents and two other firefighters also suffered minor injuries in the blaze, which broke out in a basement at 444 E. 88th St., between First and York avenues, about 5:32 a.m., according to the FDNY.

All the victims were taken to New York Hospital, officials said. The nature of the seriously hurt firefighter's injuries were not immediately available, an FDNY spokesman said.

More than 100 firefighters in 25 units responded to the two-alarm blaze, officials said.

The fire began in the building's basement and spread through a shaft to the first, second and fifth floors, as well as to the cockloft, which is a narrow, attic-like space at the top of the building.

More than 100 firefighters responded to a blaze at 444 E. 88th St. Thursday, June 14, 2012, FDNY officials said.
More than 100 firefighters responded to a blaze at 444 E. 88th St. Thursday, June 14, 2012, FDNY officials said.
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DNAinfo/Chelsia Rose Marcius

The fire was brought under control at 6:58 a.m., officials said.

Residents of the basement floor said they awoke to screams and a loud bang Thursday morning.

Adam Wier, 29, said he rousted his roommate after hearing a woman shouting upstairs about 5:30 a.m.

"Someone actually yelled to me, 'There's a fire, get out!'" he said. 

His roommate, Batel Zur, 26, recalled hearing a deafening bang that shook the walls of their apartment.

"My initial thought was that it was an earthquake," she said. "It sounded like something was coming from the pipes. It was a loud noise, like rumbling."

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.