Spring Valley, New York: A firefighter and some residents are missing in a fire at a nursing home

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It was not immediately clear how many residents could not be located amid the fire in Spring Valley, New York State Police F-Troop Private Steven Nevel said around 4 a.m. (HEY). It was also unclear whether any residents were injured or killed.

The firefighter had disappeared about an hour earlier in the Lafayette Street fire, Nevel said.

Another firefighter suffered a heart attack and was taken to hospital with injuries, he said.

State police were sending aid, including a K9 unit and supervisors, and elderly people at the center were being bused out of the area, Nevel told CNN. Spring Valley is approximately 40 miles north of Midtown Manhattan.

Elderly people in wheelchairs out of harm’s way

Spring Valley resident Hershey Green and others saw the flames and rushed to help residents, he told CNN affiliate WCBS.

They “literally ran up and helped with the old people,” Green said as the flames continued to burn through the building behind him. “There were a lot of good Samaritans here, about eight of them who literally ran into the building and took them in wheelchairs, walkers, and literally picked them up and physically pulled them out of danger.

Residents were put on a school bus as their homes were set on fire, Greed told WCBS.

“They were speechless. It was really traumatic to see that,” he said. “Watching their establishment, their house catch fire was something really traumatic.”

Firefighters sprayed the building with water as towering flames tore what was left of the structure, the video shows.

Firefighters tackle the flames Tuesday at a seniors' residence in Spring Valley, New York.

Raymond Rodriguez was staying at his uncle’s apartment near the senior center when the fire broke out, he told CNN affiliate WABC.

Rodriguez could see firefighters pulling two people out of the fire, he said.

“It’s just a sad day for the people of this town,” he told WABC, adding that firefighters evacuated people to the courtyard of the building where he resided as they fought the blaze.

The vinyl siding of the apartment building appeared to be melted and warped, WABC video shows.

Charles Crippen, who lives in the molten coated building, was ready to leave his home if the fire spread, he said.

“It’s pretty devastating,” he told WABC. “It’s a lot of old people who lived there, disabled and stuff like that, and they’re all out of their homes now.”

CNN has contacted several agencies and officials for more information.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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