The fire started just after 5 p.m. on the second floor of a five-story apartment building located on University Avenue between West 192nd Street and West 190th Street in the University Heights section.
Firefighters arrived to heavy fire conditions, with flames shooting out the windows of a second floor apartment.
"It was so severe we actually had to put a line in through the window from the outside to fight it from two directions," said FDY Deputy Chief William McCormack.
FDNY officials say crews had to bring four people down the fire escape in the rear of the building.
One of the people that had to be rescued was 72-year-old Pablo Abreu Rodriguez.
"He opened the door and all the smoke came in, he closed the door and then they went through the back on the fire escape," he said through a translator.
Nine civilians suffered from inhalation, including a 79-year-old woman who is currently in critical condition.
"The critical patient was initially assessed and was in stable condition and rapidly deteriorated due to smoke conditions and was transported rapidly to an area hospital," said FDNY EMS Deputy Chief Mario Thompkins.
Eight of the victims were taken to hospitals, and one refused medical attention.
The fire has since been placed under control, but many tenants are now wondering where they will go.
"We don't know how to feel because we're outside and we don't know if we're going to be able to sleep in our bed," Abreu Rodriguez said.
There's no word yet on what sparked the fire, but officials say they have no reason to believe the incident is suspicious.
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