The five-alarm fire happened just before 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday at 16-66 Bell Boulevard, a 7-story building in Bay Terrace, Queens.
The building has 152 apartments.
49-year-old Victor Hidalgo, a building worker, was arrested in connection with the fire.
Hidalgo is charged with reckless endangerment.
Marshals say he illegally used a blow torch on the building's combustible roof.
Thirteen firefighters were injured. Most went to North Shore Hospital in serious but stable condition with heat related injuries.
There were also 3 civilians injured. One of them was listed in serious but stable condition.
The fire was confined to the roof and cockloft.
Fire was brought under control shortly before 5:00 on Wednesday.