Fire rips through Manhattan high-rise killing 1

A furious blaze tore through a Manhattan high-rise Sunday morning, killing one person, critically injuring another and sending desperate residents fleeing flaming balconies and smoke-filled hallways. The fire erupted on the 20th floor of the 36-story apartment building at 500 43rd St. at about 11 a.m., authorities said. One neighbor witnessed a resident pleading for help from his 20th-floor balcony. "I was in my living room, and I heard screaming," said Eirik Mosveen, who lives down the block. "I came outside, and when I looked up, I saw a man on the balcony screaming. A short time later, the flames were covering the balcony. I hope he got out." Mickey Atwal, who was stuck on the 26th floor, went to his balcony and tweeted a picture of the smoke billowing from below. "Too much smoke on hallways," Atwal wrote on Twitter. "Elevators not working. Standing in balcony with wife and 2yr old." The man later tweeted that he and his family were "safe and in good spirits." The dead man was only identified as being 27 years old. A lifeguard at the health club near the top of the building saved a senior citizen from the inferno. "We were up at the pool, and the alarm went off," said the guard, Boyd Olden, 31. He said he took the older person, who was in the shower, and led him out, along with a receptionist. At one point, "We got trapped up in a smoke-filled stairwell. I was pretty sure we were all dead," Olden said. But the trio managed to escape. Once outside, Olden gave the senior citizen a jacket and pants to try and keep warm. A total of at least six people were injured, including two male victims. They were taken to separate Manhattan hospitals. Assistant Chief John Sudnik said the fire started in an apartment on the 20th floor which was unoccupied at the time. The people living in the unit were out shopping and Sudnik said he has no idea how it started. The fire was contained to the 20th floor apartment and both critical injuries took place when residents tried to escape the building and got stuck in the smoke-filled stairwells. There were also seven minor injuries and four minor injuries to firefighters. Two critically injured in massive fire at Midtown Manhattan high-rise - New York Daily News. 2 critically hurt in Manhattan high-rise fire Fire at Manhattan High-Rise Leaves Two Critically Injured Fire rips through Manhattan high-rise, 1 dead 1 Dead in Midtown High-Rise Fire: Officials One Dead, One Critical In West Midtown High-Rise Fire 2 critically hurt in Manhattan high-rise fire NYFD:2 critically hurt in Manhattan high-rise fire 1 dead, 1 critically hurt in NYC high-rise fire 2 people critically injured after fire at high-rise building in New York

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GUh5yEi4mU