Dozens woke up to smoke Monday morning after a fire erupted inside an apartment building in the Belmont section of the Bronx.
The smoke was so thick, residents say they couldn't see as they rushed to get out of the building at 2311 Southern Blvd.
The FDNY confirmed a fire broke out in the trash compactor on the 11th floor just after 7 a.m.
Almost 80 firefighters rushed to the scene, with some breaking in doors to get residents out of the top floors of the building.
Many of those people who were trapped said they never saw flames, but instead black thick smoke that they couldn't see and could barely breathe.
Some said they were woken up by the smoke, while others heard the blaring fire alarm.
Officials said six people were hurt, with five of them taken to the hospital and one staying on the scene. They are all expected to be OK.