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by VERONIKA BELENKAYA
A deadly blaze swept through an upper West Side apartment building yesterday, killing a man, injuring eight tenants and sending dozens dashing into the early morning darkness.
"I just inhaled a lot of smoke," said Carrie Reynosa, 21, visibly shaken after the 3 a.m. fire. "I couldn't get out on my own. My nerves wouldn't let me, so the firemen brought me down. God bless them!"
More than 170 firefighters battled the four-alarm blaze, but the city's Bravest could not save everyone inside 964 Amsterdam Ave.,
near W. 107th St.
Juan Soberanis, 66, a Guatemalan immigrant, was found dead inside his apartment on the top floor of the six-story building.
His 65-year-old wife and 45-year-old son, whose names were not released, were among the injured, neighbors said. Both were in serious condition at Cornell-Weill Medical Center.
The fire ignited in garbage outside the building and spread quickly into a first-floor hallway before climbing to the upper floors, authorities said.
As smoke poured from the windows, children - who were awakened from their slumber just hours before the first day of school - rushed out of the building clutching blankets.
Eight firefighters suffered minor injuries and were taken to Cornell-Weill where they were treated and released.
Police said the blaze, which took two hours to control, was suspicious, but fire officials were still investigating the cause.
With Rich Schapiro and Tony Sclafani
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