Firefighter who survived 40-foot drop in Harlem blaze released from hospital

A firefighter who miraculously survived a 40-foot autumn down a gathering shaft portion battling a 6-alarm blaze walked retired of Harlem Hospital Center connected Wednesday to claps and cheers from chap FDNY members.

Chris Zambrzycki of Engine 58 successful Harlem was among much than 200 firefighters and paramedics who responded to a roaring blaze wrong a second-floor flat successful a six-story gathering connected W. 145th St. adjacent Broadway astir 2:45 p.m. Nov 1.

“I privation to convey the FDNY for being a existent family,” Zambrzycki said. “Thank each the companies that were capable to get maine truthful rapidly and get maine retired of that situation. Thank you to the rescue medics for taking attraction of maine to the hospital, my company, Engine 58/Ladder 26, for being determination each infinitesimal I needed and keeping maine fed successful this infirmary — and I privation to convey the infirmary who were large to me.”

Firefighter Chris Zambryzcki exits Harlem Hospital connected Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 wherever helium was treated for injuries from a 5-alarm occurrence connected W. 145th St. (Sam Costanza for the New York Daily News)

Besides Zambrzycki, who was rushed to the infirmary aft his fall, 5 gathering residents and 3 different firefighters were treated for insignificant injuries from the fire.

FDNY occurrence marshals determined the origin of the blaze was a powerfulness cord for a lamp. Authorities urged New Yorkers via X to instrumentality precautions successful inspecting electrical appliances, cords, outlets for harm arsenic good arsenic not covering cords nether rugs.

Bobby Dillard, who witnessed the blaze from his flat crossed the street, said the flames appeared to dice earlier abruptly reigniting.

“It started connected the 2nd floor. It blew retired the windows. It died down but past it flared up again. It went from the 3rd to the 4th floor. The firefighters looked backmost and it was burning similar it had conscionable started,” Dillard said. “Then it went up done the different floors and blew retired the roof.”