At least 170 fire-fighters are battling a huge blaze in an apartment building in New York city.

The blaze began just after 3pm inside the building located at 565 W. 144th Street and Broadway in the Hamilton Heights neighbourhood on Friday (27 November).

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The fire ripped through the building, sending large plumes of smoke into the sky.

Eyewitness video from the scene shows flames on the top floor of the six-storey building, as the fire quickly spread through the apartment block.

It's unclear how many people were inside the building when the blaze started. No injuries have been reported so far.

It is not know what caused the fire in the building which is a residential and retail property.

Fire crews are on the scene trying to contain the blaze as strong winds fan the flames.

The city's fire department said that two of its members had suffered non-life threatening injuries. "There are currently 2 non-life-threatening injuries to firefighters reported at 5-alarm fire, 565 W 144 St Manhattan," the department said on Twitter.

Local residents and store owners have been evacuated from the the area, Mail Online reports.

Officials have warned people to stay away from the area.

This is a developing story. More follows.