New York City officials have blamed an electric space heater as the cause of one of the worst fire disasters in the city in decades. The fire burned through a high-rise apartment in the Bronx, killing at least 19 people, including nine children.
Fire authorities said the blaze began on the second and third floors of the 19-story apartment building. FDNY Commissioner Dan Nigro said the fire spread through an open door and into the rest of the building. He added that smoke spread throughout the building, causing unfortunate deaths.
The fire department sent nearly 200 firefighters to help put out the flames. A resident had called 911, reporting a fire on a residential building on East 181st Street in Fordham Heights.
FDNY officials said they rescued and evacuated dozens of residents from the building, some of whom had to be evacuated through windows using ladders. Some firefighters reportedly ran out of oxygen while conducting rescue operations inside the building.
Residents of the building who required assistance were transferred to a nearby school, the Angelo Patri Middle School on Webster Avenue, set up as a temporary evacuation center. The Red Cross was also on-site to assist families and victims.
Mayor Eric Adams announced the death toll on Sunday, adding that more than 63 people had sustained serious injuries. Adams said 32 people had to be sent to the hospital due to life-threatening injuries.
Officials said most of the victims had died from severe smoke inhalation. Firefighters who were able to enter the burning building said they saw bodies of victims on almost every floor and some people experiencing respiratory arrest. Officials did not disclose the names and ages of the victims and only confirmed that nine of those that died were children.
The building was reportedly home to mostly Muslim migrants from the country of Gambia. State officials said they would be establishing a fund to help the victims of the building fire.
Adams said during a press conference that the fire was one of the worst to hit the city in decades. Footage of the fire showed flames blowing out windows, sending broken glass around the towering apartment building. Officials said many of those who died were trapped inside their apartments without any way of escaping.
The last major fire to hit the city was more than 30 years ago. In March 1990, an arsonist set fire to a local club called Happy Land in the Bronx. The fire killed 87 people.
