Seventeen Killed, Dozens Injured in Five-Alarm Bronx Fire Started by Space Heater
333 E 181st St, Tremont, Bronx
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Summary
- Seventeen people were killed and dozens more were injured in a five-alarm apartment building fire started by a malfunctioning space heater Sunday morning in the Bronx, officials said.
- Just before 11 a.m. that morning, firefighters located heavy smoke and fire in an apartment that spanned the second and third floor of the 19-story building located at 333 E 181st St in Tremont.
- The door to the apartment was left open, and flames spread into the hallway. On Monday morning, Mayor Eric Adams said the door should have closed on its own, but its self-closing mechanisms may have malfunctioned.
- Stairwell doors that were also open allowed the heavy smoke to reach "the entire height of the building," FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said.
- As many as 200 firefighters responded to the scene, and some ran out of oxygen in their tanks, officials said.
- They located residents on every floor with injuries related to severe smoke inhalation, including respiratory and cardiac arrest.
- Radio transmissions from the scene indicated at least 63 people were injured, with approximately 32 of those injuries being considered life-threatening.
- Officials announced on Sunday that ten adults and nine children had been pronounced dead. Mayor Adams revised the number on Monday to include nine adults and eight children, for a total of 17 deaths.
- During a preliminary investigation, fire marshals determined the blaze was started by a malfunctioning electric space heater in a bedroom of the two-story apartment.
- The building, which reportedly did have the heat turned on, was not equipped with fire escapes, and Nigro said residents were likely unable to escape using internal stairwells due to the volume of smoke.
- The buildings smoke alarms were triggered, Nigro said. Officials will investigate reports from residents that the smoke alarms went off frequently and erroneously, possibly causing a lack of urgency and confusion if there was an active fire in the building at all.
- Governor Kathy Hochul said she plans to establish a victim’s compensation fund.
- Mayor Adams and Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson both expressed their hopes to “turn our pain into purpose” by improving fire safety education.
- Many of the building's residents were originally from Gambia, officials said. Gambian Ambassador Dawda D. Fadera traveled from Washington D.C. to support the community and express the country's grief in the Monday afternoon press conference.
- A vigil will be held Tuesday, January 11th from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Angelo Patri School at 2190 Folin Street.
- Officials noted it was the city's deadliest fire in decades. It occurred just days after a fire in a row home in Philadelphia left four adults and eight children dead.
Timeline
Citizen is OnAir.
The NYC Medical Examiner has revised the death toll of the five-alarm apartment fire in the Bronx, indicating that 17 people—nine adults and eight children—have died, Mayor Adams said in a press conference Monday afternoon.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said fire marshals have determined the fire was started by an electric space heater in a bedroom.
Ten adults and nine children have been pronounced dead, according to a report from the AP.
According to an updated report from fire officials, sixty-three people have been injured, with thirty-two sustaining life-threatening injuries. Nine people are reported to have injuries that aren’t life-threatening and twenty-two others sustained minor injuries.
At least fifty-four people have been injured, with thirty-one sustaining life-threatening injuries, according to an updated report from ABC News.
A tweet from the official Twitter of the New York City Police Department states that the area east of 181st Street and Valentine Avenue will be experiencing high emergency vehicle traffic due to the fire and advises avoiding the area.
Firefighters have located one more person needing treatment for serious non life-threatening injuries.
Updated reports state that forty people have been injured during the fire. Thirty-one people are being treated for life-threatening injuries and nine sustained non life-threatening injuries.
Primary searches on the sixth through eleventh floor are negative.
Firefighters report that thirty-seven people are suffering from injuries related to the fire. Thirty of these people have sustained life-threatening injures, one of them has serious, non life-threatening injuries, and six people have minor injuries.
A new update from firefighters states that thirty-two people have sustained injuries from the fire. Twenty-six of these injuries are life-threatening and six are minor injuries.
According to an updated report, firefighters advise that there are fifteen people that have sustained injuries, with eleven suffering from life-threatening injuries.
Firefighters report that there have been ten injuries at the scene. Seven people are suffering from life-threatening injuries.
It's unclear how many people are possibly trapped, according to firefighters.
A video shared by a Citizen user shows an apartment fully engulfed in flames.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 333 E 181st St.
Citizen is OnAir.
The NYC Medical Examiner has revised the death toll of the five-alarm apartment fire in the Bronx, indicating that 17 people—nine adults and eight children—have died, Mayor Adams said in a press conference Monday afternoon.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said fire marshals have determined the fire was started by an electric space heater in a bedroom.
Ten adults and nine children have been pronounced dead, according to a report from the AP.
According to an updated report from fire officials, sixty-three people have been injured, with thirty-two sustaining life-threatening injuries. Nine people are reported to have injuries that aren’t life-threatening and twenty-two others sustained minor injuries.
At least fifty-four people have been injured, with thirty-one sustaining life-threatening injuries, according to an updated report from ABC News.
A tweet from the official Twitter of the New York City Police Department states that the area east of 181st Street and Valentine Avenue will be experiencing high emergency vehicle traffic due to the fire and advises avoiding the area.
Firefighters have located one more person needing treatment for serious non life-threatening injuries.
Updated reports state that forty people have been injured during the fire. Thirty-one people are being treated for life-threatening injuries and nine sustained non life-threatening injuries.
Primary searches on the sixth through eleventh floor are negative.
Firefighters report that thirty-seven people are suffering from injuries related to the fire. Thirty of these people have sustained life-threatening injures, one of them has serious, non life-threatening injuries, and six people have minor injuries.
A new update from firefighters states that thirty-two people have sustained injuries from the fire. Twenty-six of these injuries are life-threatening and six are minor injuries.
According to an updated report, firefighters advise that there are fifteen people that have sustained injuries, with eleven suffering from life-threatening injuries.
Firefighters report that there have been ten injuries at the scene. Seven people are suffering from life-threatening injuries.
It's unclear how many people are possibly trapped, according to firefighters.
A video shared by a Citizen user shows an apartment fully engulfed in flames.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 333 E 181st St.
Citizen is OnAir.
The NYC Medical Examiner has revised the death toll of the five-alarm apartment fire in the Bronx, indicating that 17 people—nine adults and eight children—have died, Mayor Adams said in a press conference Monday afternoon.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said fire marshals have determined the fire was started by an electric space heater in a bedroom.
Ten adults and nine children have been pronounced dead, according to a report from the AP.
According to an updated report from fire officials, sixty-three people have been injured, with thirty-two sustaining life-threatening injuries. Nine people are reported to have injuries that aren’t life-threatening and twenty-two others sustained minor injuries.
At least fifty-four people have been injured, with thirty-one sustaining life-threatening injuries, according to an updated report from ABC News.
A tweet from the official Twitter of the New York City Police Department states that the area east of 181st Street and Valentine Avenue will be experiencing high emergency vehicle traffic due to the fire and advises avoiding the area.
Firefighters have located one more person needing treatment for serious non life-threatening injuries.
Updated reports state that forty people have been injured during the fire. Thirty-one people are being treated for life-threatening injuries and nine sustained non life-threatening injuries.
Primary searches on the sixth through eleventh floor are negative.
Firefighters report that thirty-seven people are suffering from injuries related to the fire. Thirty of these people have sustained life-threatening injures, one of them has serious, non life-threatening injuries, and six people have minor injuries.
A new update from firefighters states that thirty-two people have sustained injuries from the fire. Twenty-six of these injuries are life-threatening and six are minor injuries.
According to an updated report, firefighters advise that there are fifteen people that have sustained injuries, with eleven suffering from life-threatening injuries.
Firefighters report that there have been ten injuries at the scene. Seven people are suffering from life-threatening injuries.
It's unclear how many people are possibly trapped, according to firefighters.
A video shared by a Citizen user shows an apartment fully engulfed in flames.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 333 E 181st St.
Citizen is OnAir.
The NYC Medical Examiner has revised the death toll of the five-alarm apartment fire in the Bronx, indicating that 17 people—nine adults and eight children—have died, Mayor Adams said in a press conference Monday afternoon.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said fire marshals have determined the fire was started by an electric space heater in a bedroom.
Ten adults and nine children have been pronounced dead, according to a report from the AP.
According to an updated report from fire officials, sixty-three people have been injured, with thirty-two sustaining life-threatening injuries. Nine people are reported to have injuries that aren’t life-threatening and twenty-two others sustained minor injuries.
At least fifty-four people have been injured, with thirty-one sustaining life-threatening injuries, according to an updated report from ABC News.
A tweet from the official Twitter of the New York City Police Department states that the area east of 181st Street and Valentine Avenue will be experiencing high emergency vehicle traffic due to the fire and advises avoiding the area.
Firefighters have located one more person needing treatment for serious non life-threatening injuries.
Updated reports state that forty people have been injured during the fire. Thirty-one people are being treated for life-threatening injuries and nine sustained non life-threatening injuries.
Primary searches on the sixth through eleventh floor are negative.
Firefighters report that thirty-seven people are suffering from injuries related to the fire. Thirty of these people have sustained life-threatening injures, one of them has serious, non life-threatening injuries, and six people have minor injuries.
A new update from firefighters states that thirty-two people have sustained injuries from the fire. Twenty-six of these injuries are life-threatening and six are minor injuries.
According to an updated report, firefighters advise that there are fifteen people that have sustained injuries, with eleven suffering from life-threatening injuries.
Firefighters report that there have been ten injuries at the scene. Seven people are suffering from life-threatening injuries.
It's unclear how many people are possibly trapped, according to firefighters.
A video shared by a Citizen user shows an apartment fully engulfed in flames.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 333 E 181st St.
Citizen is OnAir.
The NYC Medical Examiner has revised the death toll of the five-alarm apartment fire in the Bronx, indicating that 17 people—nine adults and eight children—have died, Mayor Adams said in a press conference Monday afternoon.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said fire marshals have determined the fire was started by an electric space heater in a bedroom.
Ten adults and nine children have been pronounced dead, according to a report from the AP.
According to an updated report from fire officials, sixty-three people have been injured, with thirty-two sustaining life-threatening injuries. Nine people are reported to have injuries that aren’t life-threatening and twenty-two others sustained minor injuries.
At least fifty-four people have been injured, with thirty-one sustaining life-threatening injuries, according to an updated report from ABC News.
A tweet from the official Twitter of the New York City Police Department states that the area east of 181st Street and Valentine Avenue will be experiencing high emergency vehicle traffic due to the fire and advises avoiding the area.
Firefighters have located one more person needing treatment for serious non life-threatening injuries.
Updated reports state that forty people have been injured during the fire. Thirty-one people are being treated for life-threatening injuries and nine sustained non life-threatening injuries.
Primary searches on the sixth through eleventh floor are negative.
Firefighters report that thirty-seven people are suffering from injuries related to the fire. Thirty of these people have sustained life-threatening injures, one of them has serious, non life-threatening injuries, and six people have minor injuries.
A new update from firefighters states that thirty-two people have sustained injuries from the fire. Twenty-six of these injuries are life-threatening and six are minor injuries.
According to an updated report, firefighters advise that there are fifteen people that have sustained injuries, with eleven suffering from life-threatening injuries.
Firefighters report that there have been ten injuries at the scene. Seven people are suffering from life-threatening injuries.
It's unclear how many people are possibly trapped, according to firefighters.
A video shared by a Citizen user shows an apartment fully engulfed in flames.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 333 E 181st St.
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