New York nursing home collapses in massive fire; at least 1 dead, 1 firefighter missing

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A New York firefighter is still missing Tuesday after a massive fire that brought down a nursing home building continues to burn, leaving at least one person dead and others injured, according to officials. 

More than eight hours later, the blaze has continued to rage at Evergreen Court, an assisted living facility in Spring Valley about 40 miles north of Manhattan.

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Two firefighters who fought to snuff out the flames suffered smoke inhalation and one was taken to a local hospital after having a heart attack, according to FOX 5 New York. Fire officials said one of the facility's 133 residents died at the hospital. 

Twenty-three of the 27 volunteer fire departments in Rothland County, New York, responded to the scene, with more than 100 firefighters.

The missing firefighter is from the local Spring Valley Fire Department, officials said. He was reportedly on the third floor attempting to rescue residents when parts of the structure began to collapse, and he then sent out a distress call. 

"The mayday was answered. However, with the extent of the fire, the volume of fire, the conditions were just too unbearable where firefighters went in, they just could not locate the firefighter and they headed back out," Rockland County Fire and EMS Director Chris Kear told reporters on Tuesday.

A mini excavator is being brought in in an effort to locate the missing firefighter.

It is known that Evergreen Court had a partial sprinkler, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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Earlier reports indicated that people may have been trapped inside. First responders were seen evacuating people from inside the building, videos showed. Some of the seniors were evacuated to another facility, tweeted witness Benny Polatseck.

Firefighters and emergency personal continued to fight the inferno into the early hours of the morning (WNYW)

Another eyewitness, Mark Kennedy posted pictures and videos of the blaze on social media, which could be seen for miles

"The fire was probably raging for around two hours, or maybe more, before the building caved in," he told Insider.

Firefighters and emergency personal continued to fight the inferno into the early hours of the morning, videos showed. 

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The New York City Fire Department and a chopper were also called to help fight the blaze, media outlet Belaaz reported.