On Sunday, February 9, at 3:30 am, a fire at a four-story apartment building on 80 th Street in Bay Ridge, between 5 th and 6 th Avenues, killed a 37-year-old male and injured a 34-year-old woman and 2-year-old boy. The fire began on the third floor of the building. All three were taken to NYU Langone Hospital, where the man was pronounced dead.
According to fire officers, there were cars parked too close to two nearby hydrants, which impeded the firefighters’ ability to get life-saving water to the victims in the burning apartment. FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker urged New Yorkers to park their cars at least 15 feet from hydrants. “Seconds count, and when your car is on a hydrant and a fire engine shows up, we need to get to that hydrant immediately.”
In New York City, parking within 15 feet on either side of a hydrant is prohibited, with fines of $115. Residents are asked to call 311 to report any blocked hydrants or illegally opened. Investigators are looking into the cause of the fire.
