Fire breaks out at Harlem apartment building on St. Nicholas Ave.

HARLEM, New York (WABC) -- A compactor fire at a Harlem apartment building left 13 residents injured, mostly due to smoke inhalation.

The fire broke out in the compactor room on the ninth floor of the 28-story apartment building just before 10:30 p.m. Monday.

Smoke spewed through the apartment building on St. Nicholas Avenue, leading to 13 residents being treated for smoke inhalation. Five were taken to Harlem Hospital.

One family was not permitted back into its apartment.

St. Nicholas Avenue was closed for several hours during the firefighter operation. The cause of the fire is under investigation.