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FDNY Battles Multi-Alarm Fire In Washington Heights; Firefighters Injured

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An extra-alarm fire broke out Wednesday evening at an apartment building in Washington Heights, causing minor injuries to several people.

The fire started in a five-story building at around 8:10 p.m. at 181st Street and Amsterdam Avenue, fire officials told CBS 2, and was later raised to four alarms.

The blaze started in several vacant stores that might have been under renovation. The unfinished state of the storefronts might have helped the fire to move upward quickly, fire officials said.

The fire ultimately spread to most of the apartments, fire officials told 1010 WINS.

Several firefighters and one civilian suffered minor injuries, officials said.

Amsterdam Avenue was closed near the scene.

The FDNY was investigating the blaze Wednesday night. The weather did not cause any operational issues for firefighters other than just dealing with the cold, officials said.

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