One person was killed and four firefighters suffered minor injuries after a large fire tore through a five-story Bronx apartment building on Thursday morning.
The five-alarm blaze started at around 5:30 a.m. on East 184th Street between Bassford and Bathgate avenues in the Belmont section. More than 300 firefighters and emergency personnel responded.
FDNY officials said the flames started on the top floor of the building, which houses 32 units. Video shows it blackened and burned out with smoke pouring out of the windows. Glass on some of the lower levels also appeared to be shattered.
“There was heavy damage to this building. The roof collapsed [on to] the top floor,” FDNY Chief of Operations Kevin Woods said.
The person who died was in the apartment where the fire started, according to officials. The injures suffered by the firefighters were deemed minor.
“Everything is gone”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani surveyed the scene after the fire.
“We are talking about New Yorkers who were woken up at about 5 a.m. and had to leave everything they knew. There were individuals who left their phone, clothes, medication. There was one woman who was asking if her cat survived,” he said.
More than 20 families were displaced, officials said.
“I was screaming for my life, running up and down this block, screaming, ‘Everyone get out! Get out the building.’ That’s the best thing I could [do],” said resident Ikeem Alexander.
“Everything is gone,” said one man who also lives inside.
Pieces of the building came cascading down. Marissa Brown said some of it was tar from the roof, which burned her and her 1-year-old son.
“It got his arm,” Brown said. “It was falling, as you walk out the door.”
“I thought it was a war going on outside,” Eugene Lazo added.
Building was more than 100 years old
Some tenants said they have been complaining about the more-than-century-old building for years. There are multiple structural complaints filed with the Department of Buildings, including a 2021 violation for a problem with the roof.
“We are going to be doing a thorough investigation, not only as to what caused it but also the question of the stability and safety of the building,” Mamdani said.
The Red Cross is assisting the families who were affected, putting them in hotels for now. The cause is under investigation.
