Washington Heights Fire: Residents Overload Fire Escapes (WATCH)

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — Dramatic video shows residents of a Washington Heights apartment complex flee down a fire escape as a fire sweeps through the second-floor apartment of a six-story building. Three people were hospitalized, including two firefighters, in the Sunday blaze, which started around noon near West 163rd Street and Broadway, the FDNY told media outlets.

Thick, black smoke could be seen billowing out of the building. Firefighters were able to contain the flames after about an hour.

Resident Bianca HocSome told the New York Post that residents descended down the building’s fire escape before firefighters were able to get there. Neighbors helped hand young kids down the ladders.

“I thought it was spectacular how quickly neighbors were reacting to evacuate before the fire department even got here,” Hoc told the Post.

FDNY Battalion Chief Joseph Dudley told reporters the fire escapes were actually overcrowded and they had to fetch more ladders to help evacuate people. There were kids, seniors and people with disabilities in the building. Some had to evacuate and didn't even have time to put on shoes.

"We had a real problem on the top floor because of the heat," Dudley told reporters at the scene, according to the New York Daily news. "The fire was extending out of the doorway into the stairwell. We had a lot of people on the fire escapes when we showed up which caused some extra problems for us as far as helping everyone down."

The blaze was started by a candle and spread when the resident fled and left the door open, WABC-TV reported.

One person who shot video of the residents descending the building described what he was seeing as akin to an "ant farm."

Dramatic video: elderly and mothers holding children climb down fire escapes on 163rd St in Washington Heights. 1 resident badly burned. 2 firefighters injured. All expected to survive. FDNY says started by candle, resident fled, left door open, wind spread flames. pic.twitter.com/nuBP8y0C2y
— CeFaan Kim (@CeFaanKim) April 15, 2018

Photo credit: Courtesy of Ciara McCarthy/Patch