At least 19 people, including nine children, were killed and dozens injured in a five-alarm fire that burned through an apartment complex in the Bronx on Sunday, officials said.
Stefan Ringel, senior adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, confirmed the death toll. He said the children killed were all 16 years old or younger.
Ringel said 13 people remained hospitalized in critical condition. In total, more than fifty people were injured. Most of the victims suffered severe smoke inhalation, New York City Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said.
The fire broke out in a atrium on the second and third floors of the 19-story Twin Parks North West complex in New York City’s West Bronx at around 11 a.m., according to the fire department. Victims were found on every floor of the building.
The fire department said more than 200 members responded to the scene. A fire with five alarms is the greatest response to a fire. Officials said the fire was under control as of 1:27 p.m. ET.
“This is a terrifying, monumental, traumatic moment for New York City,” Adams said. The impact of this fire will truly bring a level of grief and despair to our city. The numbers are appalling,” Adams said. “This is going to be one of the worst fires we’ve seen in modern times in New York City.”
The Bronx hasn’t had this “terrible” fire since The Fire of Happy Land in 1990Nigro said, leaving 87 people dead. Sunday’s disaster was the largest loss of life since that fire.
Sunday’s fire was also the deadliest since 2017 when 13 people died in an apartment building, also in the Bronx, according to National Fire Protection Association data.
Authorities have not determined the cause. Nigro said the apartment where the fire broke out opened the door, causing the fire and smoke to spread. There is no fire exit in the building.
Adams said schools will be open and people displaced by the fire will be brought there to connect with families.
“The (fire) officers will be investigating this to determine exactly what happened here and what we can do to continue to make it less severe,” Adams said. this, with some possible human damage,” Adams said.
Bronx County President Vanessa Gibson said the American Red Cross will donate food and blankets to affected families.
“We will take care of each and every resident who lives here at Twin Parks. We want to assure everyone we won’t abandon you. This has been devastating for all of us,” Gibson said.
The Bronx fire occurred after lithium-ion batteries in electric bicycles or scooters ignited a four-alarm fire in another part of the Bronx on Saturday morning, resulting in one firefighter with minor injuries.
On Wednesday, 12 people, including eight children, was killed in a house fire in Philadelphia.
Contribution: Associated Press
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