BY DINO PORRAZZO SR. AT AMERICAS FREEDOM FIGHTERS
At least 19 people were killed, including 9 children, in a Sunday fire that engulfed an apartment building in the Bronx, officials said. Mayor Eric Adams said the probable cause of the fire was a malfunctioning electric space heater, Breaking 911 reports.
The blaze at the 19-story apartment building on East 181st Street in Fordham Heights is being called one of New York City’s worst in 30 years.
The FDNY says more than 60 people were injured — with 32 suffering from life-threatening injuries.
FOX News reports that Mayor Eric Adams said the firefighters’ compressed air tanks were empty but “they still pushed through the smoke.”
“You can’t do this if you don’t feel attached to this city and this community,” Adams said. “I really want to thank them for putting the lives on the line to save lives.”
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said the fire spanned the second and third floors of the 19-story building. The door of the apartment was left open, allowing smoke to quickly spread throughout the building.
“The smoke conditions in this building are unprecedented,” Nigro added, calling it one of the worst blazes in the city in recent memory.
Adams said many of the building’s residents were immigrants from the West African nation of Gambia and were Muslim. Gov. Hochul said her administration would establish a victim’s compensation to help with housing and burial funds.
The fire is not believed to be suspicious in origin, but the cause is under investigation.
So tragic.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.
God bless our brave FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE, FIRST RESPONDERS and everyone that made an incredible effort to help save lives.
