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 sparked by an accumulation of gas in the basement, ABC 7 reported. 

The fire reportedly started on the roof of the apartment complex, according to CBS News. Flames broke out on the rooftop. 

‘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. 

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

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. 

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 

Daily Mail has contacted the NYPD 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. 

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

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

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