In what is becoming an alarming trend for the Five Boroughs of New York City, another fire has taken the life of an innocent victim, this time during the Thanksgiving holiday when families gather for food and fellowship.
Near midnight on the night of November 24, an inferno engulfed a multi-story brownstone located at 107 West 132nd Street in Harlem. According to officials with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), three people were seriously injured and two residents killed in the blaze.
The building, situated between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and Lenox Avenue, is one of Harlem’s classic brownstones. Over 100 firefighters and emergency responders fought the fire; by 1:00 AM on November 25, the inferno was under control. It is not yet known the extent of damage to the building; several residents were displaced in the aftermath.
A Pattern of Devastating Fires
2023 has proven to be a deadly year for New York City residents in terms of devastating fires. So far this year, 93 people have been killed. Firefighters have responded to hundreds of buildings, keeping fires from spreading and rescuing victims.
In March of this year, a seven-story apartment building located on the Bronx River Road in Westchester County was the site of a devastating blaze that injured over 40 people, including first-responders.. 35 firefighters received injuries and were treated in local hospitals along with at least six of the building’s residents. One firefighter was hit in the face by a fire hose attachment, resulting in severe trauma. He remains in the hospital receiving treatment for his injury. Other firefighters suffered burns, exhaustion, dehydration, and smoke inhalation injuries.
2022 was also a dangerous year for city residents, with almost 200 fires and six deaths tied to battery fires alone. In November, 2022, a huge fire in Manhattan caused over three dozen injuries and hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. In this case and numerous others, fire officials pinpointed lithium-ion batteries as the culprits. Other apartment fires in the city were caused by faulty equipment such as stoves and heaters; in some of these fires, a lack of operable safety and warning equipment led to quick-spreading flames and higher numbers of injuries.
Firefighters Seek Answers
As with any fire occurring in the New York City metro area, investigators from the FDNY comb through wreckage to determine the cause and source of the blaze. In the Harlem apartment building, investigators continue to track down evidence, including witness statements from other residents of the apartment building. As of yet, no cause has been determined. Of the four casualties of the fire, three were treated at Harlem Hospital, while the deceased victims remain unidentified.
Victims of building fires should seek medical attention immediately, followed by a consultation with an experienced fire injury attorney in the New York City area. These attorneys can help victims seek compensation for medical expenses, property damage and loss, and emotional suffering.
