The fire broke out shortly after 2 p.m. inside a second-floor apartment of a 16-story building on East 73rd Street.
The members of Engine 22 reached the fire apartment first and forced open the locked door. Black smoke filled the apartment from ceiling to floor, and firefighters from Ladder 2 entered to begin their search.
"We made it in 10 feet and could feel the high-heat of the fire, so we knew it was ahead of us," FDNY Lieutenat Charles McCormack said. "Everyone worked together and really did a great job."
The unconscious woman, who appeared to be in her 60s, was found lying on the floor near her computer desk. Firefighter Chris Lynch and McCormack carried her out of the apartment. They were met in the hallway by the members of Engine 39, who carried her to EMS members downstairs.
The woman was unconscious, but had a pulse, and was transported to Weill-Cornell Medical Center in critical condition. Her husband was not home at the time of the fire.
The fire was declared under control at 2:44 p.m.
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