UPPER WEST SIDE — A fire broke out in the duct work of a Chinese food restaurant Tuesday morning, FDNY officials said.
Flames climbed through the ducts to scorch all three floors and the roof, according to FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Dan Donoghue.
"The duct fire itself is out but it spread to the building so we have some areas we're still opening up in the walls, ceilings and floors," Donahue said.
About 140 firefighters were still battling the blaze more than two hours later, an FDNY spokesman said.
The fewer than a dozen people who were inside at the time managed to get out unscathed, officials said.
Fire in NYC 100 St and Broadway pic.twitter.com/RXlqK0hiXt
— Ciro Gutierrez (@CiroGutzmen) February 2, 2016
The blaze started inside Empire Chinese Restaurant at 2642 Broadway, near West 100th Street, about 10:10 a.m., officials said.
Four staff members were in the kitchen when the fire broke out, but the restaurant wasn't set to open until 11:30 a.m., according to a cashier there.
MAN 3-ALARM 2642 BROADWAY, MIXED OCCUPANCY FIRE IN DUCT WORK IN RESTAURANT WITH EXTENSION TO 2ND FL,
— FDNY (@FDNY) February 2, 2016
There's a fire near from my Manhattan apartment, @FDNY is trying to water out the situation! @ABC7NYNewsDesk @ABC7NY pic.twitter.com/bUPgiplCIj
— Joshua Albarran (@JoshX1993) February 2, 2016