Toaster Sparked Washington Heights Fire That Injured 14: FDNY

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — Firefighters battled a seven-alarm fire for hours Monday after the blaze broke out in a residential building on Riverside Drive in Washington Heights, an FDNY spokesman said.

The fire broke out on the second floor of 775 Riverside Drive around 2 p.m., fire officials said. The fire spread to the building's cockloft, fire officials said. The six-story building is located near the Hudson River and West 156th Street.

Firefighters put the blaze under control shortly after 9 p.m., according to fire officials.

The fire spread to the cockloft through the building's dumbwaiter, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said Monday. The fire proved difficult to fight because the cockloft is an open area and requires firefighters to cut through either the building's roof or from the ceiling below the access the fire, the commissioner said.

Investigators with the city fire marshall's office ruled that the fire was caused accidentally by an electric toaster, fire officials said.

At least 14 people have suffered non life-threatening injuries, fire officials said.

Photo by FDNY