World

Three alarm fire at Mount Sinai hospital in New York

by Amy Judd | January 21, 2009 at 04:06 pm

1997 views | 39 Recommendations | 15 comments

The fire at Mount Sinai hospital in Manhattan has now been extinguished and fire crews are working to deal with the smoke. No one was injured in the fire.

Previously:

A fire has broken out in an emergency room at Mount Sinai hospital in Manhattan - it has now been upgraded to a three alarm fire.

No reports on any injuries yet.

FDNY has responded.

There are reports of thick black smoke coming out of the building and evacuations have begun.

Car 10, the borough commander of the Bronx, has now ordered an additional 4 battalion chiefs to come to the command post of the fire at Mount Sinai Medical Center. The main body of fire is knocked down but heavy smoke conditions exist on upper floors. Companies are engaged in searches of those floors.

A witness to the fire says:

Janet Montero is manager at the One Fish Two Fish restaurant on the Upper East Side. She says flames are shooting from what appears to be Mount Sinai Medical Center's 10th and 11th floors.

She says there are lots of people out on the street and fire trucks are filling several blocks.

The fire department says its spokesman is on his way to the scene.

The NYC fire department is investigating reports that dozens are still trapped inside the burning hospital; smoke risin g from the building.

The hospital is located at East 98th Street and Madison Avenue.

Updates to come.

UPDATE: There are reports that the fire has been extinguished.

RT @BreakingNewsOn: FDNY official tells @BreakingNewsOn the fire at Mt. Sinai Hospital is out; no injuries reported at this time.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Vinny

at 16:15 on January 21st, 2009

A Fox 5 News crew is on the way to the scene.

158

at 16:18 on January 21st, 2009

I hope there are no deaths.

158

at 16:27 on January 21st, 2009

nyctuber

at 17:38 on January 21st, 2009

Whew! Was born there, looks like I narrowly escaped death by 42 years

Vinny

at 16:55 on January 21st, 2009

Now a 3 alarm fire.

Amy Judd

at 18:59 on January 21st, 2009

Thanks Vinny

Tina Kells

at 16:56 on January 21st, 2009

Definition of a Three Alarm Fire

Question:
Any firemen, what constitutes a 3-alarm fire?Or 1-alarm or 2-alarm? Does it go higher?

Answer: One alarm requires a basic response with equipment on hand. It's used mostly for trash bin fires, smoke situations, etc.

Two alarm simply means the need for more equipment and personnel and may mean the need for specialized equipment.

Three alarm is getting serious. Could mean rescue is needed, protection of endangered structures to prevent spread, etc.

Four alarm. If you live or work in the immediate area get out. Quite often four alarm, and occasionally three alarm, calls for mutual aid when and where available. Serious danger of fire spreading to include nearby structures.

Five alarm is rare. The Oakland Hills fire would be a good example, or the recent Southern California fires. Many structures involved with many more endangered. We lost several thousand homes in the Oakland Hills fire and several lives, including fire fighters and police.

Amy Judd

at 17:05 on January 21st, 2009

Thanks Tina

Tina Kells

at 17:07 on January 21st, 2009

PS - "mutual aid" means a different district sends its firefighters to help. Like New Jersey helping New York. That sort of thing.

Paschen

at 20:22 on January 21st, 2009

That is interesting how in seems to work in the US.

Pythiian1

at 17:32 on January 21st, 2009

This is an update from local news this evening - none of patient is injured, they've been evacuated. The fire has been put out, although smokes seem to be the main concern.

Madison Avenue is still temporarily closed at 96th Street, as of 7:58 pm ET.

Amy Judd

at 18:58 on January 21st, 2009

Thank goodness for that - thanks for the update

Pythiian1

at 19:56 on January 21st, 2009

You're welcome

duo

at 23:42 on January 23rd, 2009

Thank goodness no one was injured! Great pictures. Thanks for the news, Amy.

Mary

grace lipson (not verified)

at 11:41 on February 19th, 2009

I was in the awful fire on 9 center with a patient and friend who could not walk. Quite a story how we got him down 9 flights. I do not understand why the coverage was so sparce. 500 pts evacuated. This must be one of the biggest fires in hospital history and onlyone channel covered it. no reports in any ny papers. Weird.