Huge Bronx fire leaves 2 injured, dozens of families displaced, NYC officials say
Two elderly New Yorkers are hospitalized and dozens of families are displaced after flames erupted at a five-story mixed-use building in the Bronx, officials said.
The blaze started just after midnight Monday on the top floor of the building at the corner of Grand Concourse and 167th Street. It quickly became a four-alarm fire as the flames spread.
More than 230 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene.
An 80-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman were hurt and last reported to be in stable condition, according to officials. One of them was seriously injured, firefighters said.
"I see fire coming out from bricks and walls. [I] went inside told children, 'We have to go, have to evacuate, there's a fire.' [I] started knocking on everyone's door and said, 'You gotta leave, gotta leave, and as I'm doing that I'm calling 911," a woman named Maria said.
The New York City Department of Buildings issued a full vacate order Monday afternoon after inspectors found "extensive fire damage including charring to roof joists throughout the structure, with portions of roof open to the elements."
The vacate order impacts 48 apartments and three commercial spaces, DOB said.
Cold temperatures create a challenge for firefighters
The cold weather made it tough for firefighters to put the flames out. Any water they used iced over immediately, coating the sidewalks and streets.
Frozen hydrants required special thawing units to be called to the scene to defrost them, the FDNY said in a post on X.
"When the fire reached the cockloft, it spread across the roof from one wing of the building into the middle wing," FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Tim Keenan said.
At least three ladder trucks were used while crews went room by room with halogen tools and axes. They broke windows and created ventilation to help control the fire's spread.
The fire was under control just after 2 a.m.
More than 25 families lose their homes
The entire building was evacuated as a precaution before city building inspectors started surveying the structure.
The Red Cross said it registered more than 100 people, including kids, at a nearby school that is partially being used as a reception center. They were given blankets, food and hotel rooms.
"Police came and told us we have to leave, take important stuff and leave, evacuated the building," a resident said.
Residents said many of their units suffered water damage. There was concern that ceilings would sag and collapse under the weight of water.
"My apartment got damaged. All of our apartments got damaged. The water came down, ceiling came down," said one resident.
Some residents also said a woman was reporting electrical problems with her unit just before the fire started.
"Some lady on the fifth floor was having some electrical issue with her light, reported it to the super," said resident Matt Olivari. "I think it was a wire shortage and burst into fire."
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
