New York rocked by ‘explosion’ as black smoke chokes Manhattan neighborhood

An explosion has rocked Manhattan’s Upper East Side and sent plumes of smoke into the skies over New York City. 

Around 100 firefighters and first responders were called to 305 E 95th Street on Friday morning around 10am after a massive fire broke out in the prewar building. 

The fire was sparked by an accumulation of gas in the basement, ABC 7 reported. Flames broke out on the rooftop after an explosion was heard. 

‘I heard an explosion from my building just opposite the fire, and looked outside and saw all the smoke in the skies,’ Joann Sowma told Daily Mail. 

‘There was a loud boom just before the fire and smoke started,’ X user, Jimmy Chen, who was nearby, wrote on the platform. 

The fire reported has spread to the top-floor apartments, according to Citizen. No occupants were found in the units. 

Its superintendent was in the basement at the time and is being treated for minor injuries, ABC 7 said. Two firefighters have also reportedly been injured. 

Helicopter video shows dozens of firefighters spraying water on top of the 59-unit building. 

Firefighter David Martinez, 38, who was inside the apartment, said he was battling fires inside for ‘quite some time.’

A massive fire broke out on the rooftop of 305 E 95th Street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side

Large plumes of smoke could be see coming from the prewar building  

The large fire occurred Friday morning around 10am. Around 100 firefighters and first responded are attending to the massive three-alarm blaze 

‘We were going room to room, I was at the end of the hose trying to keep it down… it was so hot.’

‘Luckily they weren’t home,’ he added.

Martinez, a former Marine, said crews were unsure of the exact cause of the fires, but said they ‘have it under control.’

Furniture is believed to be the source of the smoke on the rooftop, according to Citizen.  

The fire has been rated a three-alarm, meaning it is a large-scale blaze that requires significant amount of personnel and resources to extinguish. 

Daily Mail has contacted the NYPD and FDNY for more information. 

The red brick apartment building was built in 1910 and has six floors. It does have a ‘roof deck,’ according to its Street Easy profile

The red brick apartment building was built in 1910 and has six floors. It does have a ‘roof deck,’ according to its Street Easy profile. 

Multiple FDNY and EMS units, including two ladder trucks, were sent to the scene. 

Crews are still working, but got the flames under control. 

This is a developing story, please check back for updates.