Two injured in Upper West Side fire

(New York- WABC, March 27, 2007) (WABC) -- At least two people are injured in a third-alarm fire in an apartment building on the Upper West Side.

Eyewitness News is told the fire broke out in a five-story apartment building at 42 West 65th Street just after 8:00 a.m.

The fire apparently started in the basement and spread to the first floor.

Eyewitness News' Ken Rosato spoke to fire victims. "I heard voices and I saw the ladder going up by my window and there were firemen on it," said Melanie Mintz.

Fire officials say one woman pulled from the building by firefighters in critical condition.

A second person was being treated in unknown condition, but the injury is believed to be serious.

The three alarm fire was so smokey fire officials had to use thermal imaging cameras to find people inside.

One thing that may have hampered rescue efforts is a security gate was padlocked shut.

"The reason it spread is the fire wound up in the pipechasers in the wall in the spaces where the pipes are. The fire ended up inside the wall so it spread inside the walls to various floors," said Assistant Chief Michael Weinlin.

It took more than two dozen fire units and more than 100 firefighters to get the fire under control.

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