[
Photo via @academyrecords]
More than 200 firefighters have been battling a major overnight fire at 188 First Ave., a five-story building between 11th Street and 12th Street...[
See below for updates — the fire is in the building's setback]
[
Photo by Doug Singer]
First Avenue has been closed at Ninth Street for the FDNY equipment.
We'll continue to update as more information becomes available...
Update 1
Four firefighters and two residents were hurt in the five-alarm fire,
ABC 7 reports. All of the injuries are said to be minor.
Per ABC:
The fire broke out on the first floor of a five-story apartment building on 1st Avenue just before 2 a.m.
Fire spread through the building quickly.
Update 2
NBC 4 states nine injuries, including seven firefighters — one of who was seriously injured.
No immediate cause for the fire, officials say.
--
The ground floor is occupied by Uogashi, the Japanese restaurant.
Update 3
The FDNY is calling this a 6-alarm fire now...
Update 4
Update 5 — 8 a.m.
The FDNY response is massive. Trucks stretch back to between Seventh Street and Sixth Street.
Here's an early morning photo via Lola Sáenz...
...and these are from the rear of the building taken from 12th Street via Steven...
... and from the front of the building...
Update 6
A view via KT...
Update 7 9 a.m.
More from
ABC 7:
Flames spread to a small section of rear of the building, which partially collapsed and could safely not accessed by firefighters.
"Much of the roof on the first floor extension has burned away, but because of the collapse hazard we can't get in there. And that's the problem, why we can't put this fire out right now," Chief James Leonard, FDNY Chief of Department.
They poured water on the small section, waiting for the roof to collapse so they could fully extinguish it.
Until then, the smoldering section spewed heavy smoke that prompted firefighters to evacuate five adjacent buildings.
This aerial view shows the collapse in the structure behind the building... part of Uogashi?
The injured list is now reportedly at 14 — including 11 firefighters, mostly smoke for inhalation and heat exhaustion.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Red Cross is on the scene...
And no school here...
Update 8
First Avenue will likely be closed for much of the day...
Update 9
Update 10 1:15 p.m.
The FDNY issued an under control just before 1 p.m. ...
Uogashi occupied No. 188's ground floor and an extension in the lot's backyard. FDNY officials said the fire began in the restaurant, per published reports. The back structure was demolished. 
