NYPD officers rescue man in wheelchair from burning Queens building

ASTORIA (WABC) -- NYPD officers rushed into a burning building to save a man trapped inside the flames.

The man is said to be doing fine, but the four officers all paid a price for their heroism.

5 police officers had to be treated for smoke inhalation after the dramatic rescue from a house fire. All injuries were minor but both police and fire officials are investigating.

Workers were busy boarding up the home on 28th Street in Astoria tonight, after intense flames gutted the building.

"I saw the cop push the air conditioner in. Smoke came out of the house and he dove in and rescued somebody," said neighbor Andrew Hopkins.

We're told police were called to the house Monday afternoon for a possible robbery.

When they arrived, they found smoke and flames and victims trapped inside. Officials say they did not wait for the fire department as officers immediately began rescuing the residents, including an older man in a wheelchair.

"He was laying on the ground and the fire department started to work on him, CPR with his chest and they revived him obviously and he got into a wheelchair about 20 minutes later and they took him to the hospital," said Hopkins.

"He had paralysis from a stroke at one time. I'm glad nobody got hurt, that's the most important thing," said neighbor John Agoropoulos.

Neighbors say the older man lived here with his nephew, and that 2 other men rented another apartment in the building.

Police are now investigating the initial call. Meanwhile, we're told the fire department arrived just a few minutes after the police and put out the flames. They are now investigating what triggered the blaze.

"The cause is suspicious, it's under investigation. We don't really know right now," said Battalion Chief Frank Poulin.

"The nephew of the man actually came out on his own with a police officer and they actually had a little bit of an argument," said Hopkins.

we're told one man is in custody tonight. We are waiting for details on that. Meanwhile, the older man was brought back to his house a short while ago to look for his cats and wallet only to learn he cannot go back in.