VIDEO: A five-alarm fire ripped through the heart of Chinatown overnight, sending one person to the hospital with critical injuries.
The FDNY is still on the scene this morning at a community center on Mulberry Street. Firefighters worked relentlessly to put out the blaze, while people watched in disbelief, hoping the building can be saved.
“It’s very significant because we do not have a lot of space that houses nonprofits,” witness Karlin Chan told CBS2. “Hopefully it’s not a total loss anywhere.”
Around 8:45 p.m. Thursday, a passerby noticed flames on the fourth floor of the building. Witnesses described what sounded like a big bang.
“I heard a big explosion. Once I turned around, I saw the flame coming out,” Anthony Lei said. “I was a little bit shocked, as well as everyone else.”