CHELSEA — More than 100 firefighters battled a blaze that tore through two apartments in a Chelsea building Thursday morning, FDNY officials said.
The flames erupted inside a second-floor apartment at 158 W. 15th St., near Seventh Avenue, about 11:15 a.m. and filled the unit next door with smoke, said FDNY Deputy Chief John Bley.
Tenants said smoke also filled into their units on the third floor.
"I was in my apartment and I saw smoke coming in. First, it came from my bathroom window. I opened the door to the hallway and there was a lot more smoke," said Helen Peterson, who's lived there for more than 20 years.
"It was difficult to talk. My throat was starting to burn. I called 911. They came very quickly. A firefighter helped me get out. I wanted to get my stuff, but they told me, 'We have to go, now!'" Peterson added.
Firefighters extinguished the fire they could see and then started opening up the walls, Bley said.
"The biggest challenge, once the fire goes into the walls, it's hidden from our view. That's why we have to try to open up the walls to expose it. When it starts traveling, it may be in numerous areas where it has to be exposed," the chief said.
"That became a problem because as the fire grew in intensity, so did the smoke condition and that also hampers our efforts because you can't see," Bley added.
About 106 firefighters brought the blaze under control about 12:45 p.m., the FDNY said.
Red Cross officials on scene were still trying to determine how many people had been displaced in the fire and if they needed emergency housing.
No injuries were reported.
