1 killed, 11 injured, dozens displaced after Morris Heights apartment building fire
The FDNY says firefighters responded to 1484 Montgomery Ave. around 7:45 a.m., where they were met with heavy fire conditions inside the six-story building.
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One person is dead and 10 others were hurt after a fire tore through a Morris Heights apartment building Wednesday morning.
The FDNY says firefighters responded to 1484 Montgomery Ave. around 7:45 a.m., where they were met with heavy fire conditions inside the six-story building.
Officials say the flames spread to an adjoining apartment, two apartments above and into the space between the top-floor ceiling and the roof. Fire officials said wind may have contributed to some of the spread.
The FDNY reported 11 victims in all, seven civilians and four firefighters. One civilian died. The four firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
When firefighters arrived, officials say they also found a man on the sidewalk who witnesses said had jumped from a window to escape the flames.
Police identified him as a 31-year-old man who suffered burns and injuries from the fall. He was taken to the hospital in critical but stable condition.
Residents described waking up to screams and smoke filling their apartments.
“I was sleeping, I heard screaming,” resident Yaneke Valencia told News 12. “I ran to my kids’ room and opened the door and it was filled with black smoke. I told my kids to get out the apartment.”
Valencia said her family escaped, but the fire left her devastated.
“All my worldly possessions are gone,” she said. “I’m glad that me, my children are safe. But … we live in fear, constantly living in fear.”
Several tenants told News 12 that Wednesday’s fire was not the first at the building and said they had previously raised concerns with building management.
One resident told News 12 she had seen a man playing with fire weeks before Wednesday’s blaze and had warned him to stop.
Video shared with News 12 also appears to show the man playing with fire outside his apartment hours before Wednesday morning’s fire.
Investigators have not said whether the activity captured in that video is connected to the cause of the fire. News 12 has also not independently verified residents’ allegations about previous incidents or complaints to building management.
“I blame the landlord. I’ve been complaining about this for years already,” one resident told News 12.
News 12 has reached out to building management for a response to the residents’ allegations.
The American Red Cross said that as of 12:15 p.m., 13 households had registered for emergency assistance, including 28 adults and 21 children.
The organization is providing assistance, including temporary lodging. Displaced residents can receive hot meals and information about their homes and recovery resources from a nearby reception center located at IS 234.
Those who need help should enter at 165th Street and Macombs Place at the CIS 303 entrance. Those unable to visit the center can call 1-877-RED-CROSS and select Option 1.
The identity of the person who died has not yet been released.
Fire marshals and the NYPD are investigating the cause of the fire.
