A fire broke out of a 3rd floor apartment in “The Griffin” building on Lafayette and S Oxford St on Saturday evening. Cops on the scene say some residents suffered from minor smoke inhalation and that the damage was confined to the one apartment, but as of 9:10 pm on Saturday, the fire hoses were still spraying. S Oxford St was cordoned off to traffic and pedestrians and the phalanx of fire trucks and ambulances had passersby peppering cops with questions. Some residents were resigned to drinking at the nearby Moe’s bar while the fire department denied them entry. “The Griffin” was once a hotel and it’s believed to house a number of elderly residents. We’ll post updates as we get them.
—UPDATES AFTER THE JUMP—
UPDATE: After a visit to the bulding, residents are divided over the source of the fire. Some say it was incense that ignited a matress in the 3rd floor. Others say it was a candle that dropped on the bed. Firefighters were still on the scene at 11:00 pm, shining lights on the bed, presumably investigating the source of the flames. Smoke lingered on floors as high as the penthouse level, but residents were returning to all but the 2nd and 3rd floors.
UPDATE: The smell of smoke was still around on Sunday morning, as was a single fire truck and the smashed glass from the apartment that was ablaze. Here’s the sight of the smashed window the next day:
General Nathaniel Greene, our namesake. Read more about him 
I don’t know what a phalanx is but people seem really worried about their stuff
It’s a pretty grim day at the Griffin today. Thankfully, every person got out alright, especially since it was a very serious fire. For those of us who made it out via the smoke-filled stairway, it was a frightening experience. My boyfriend suffered some smoke inhalation but was treated and is home resting. The 3rd floor looks decimated and the smell of smoke still lingers in the hallway. I have no idea how long it will take for the 2nd and 3rd floor tenants to get back in, but I hope it will be soon and that the damage is minimal. I learned that, unfortunately, the cats of the tenant whose apartment burned died in the fire. So sad.
Thanks for your comment Collete. I hope your boyfriend recovers soon. I did not know about the cats – that’s so sad to hear.
Just dropping by.Btw, you website have great content!
______________________________
Look Better, Feel Better, and Raise Your Self-Esteem 150% by Curing Your Cold Sores in 3 Days!