On January 9, local time, a fire broke out in an apartment building in the Bronx, New York City, USA, killing 19 people, including 9 children, and injuring more than 60 people, including more than ten of them, and being in critical condition. It is the worst fire in the area in more than 30 years.
New York City Fire Department Director Daniel Nigro said at a press conference that the cause of the fifth-level fire was a "failed electric heater." Firefighters said that because the doors of the fired apartment were not closed, the fire and smoke spread throughout the building, and "corpses were carried away on every floor."
There is no fire escape, and residents are killed on every floor
According to foreign media reports, at around 11 o'clock that morning, the heating appliances of a duplex apartment broke down in this residential building located in Fordham Heights, the Bronx. As the doors were not closed, the fire quickly swallowed the apartment across the second and third floors, and the fire and smoke then spread throughout the building.
reported that the 19-story high-rise residential building did not have a fire escape, and smoke spreading to the top of the building forced many residents to be trapped in apartments.
↑ Site of the incident
New York Fire Department officials said that after receiving the fire alarm call, the bureau mobilized about 200 firefighters to the scene to put out the fire, but it took more than an hour to put out the fire. It is reported that the first batch of firefighting teams arriving at the fire scene actually lacked staffing. Firefighters Association president Andrew Ainsbrrow said the first fire truck responding to the fire alarm call sent only four firefighters because "someone got sick from COVID-19 ".
Amberlo added: "Several fire trucks in the first batch (rescue forces) have similar situations. If there is enough staffing to put out the fire faster, residents will also receive medical assistance earlier." On the other hand, the cold winter weather also makes fire extinguishing more difficult.
↑ Firefighters rescued a child
Director Nigro said: "The smoke (spreading) in this building is unprecedented." During the search and rescue process, firefighters fought "thick smoke and fire" in the corridor of the building, and some team members even used up oxygen in oxygen tank . Firefighters mainly rescued through ladders that reached into apartment windows, but one of them fell from the window while trying to climb the fire ladder.
In addition, firefighters found trapped people who inhaled a lot of thick smoke on every floor and on the stairwell, most of whom were in the cardiac arrest state.
Many children are shouting "Help" and have killed 19 people. 9 children are
"I hear a lot of children shouting "Help". The smoke is really serious, and those children are crying for help." Dylanny Rodriguez, who lives on the ninth floor, said that when she escaped with her children, she could hear the screams of her neighbor's children echoing throughout the apartment. Christol Diaz, who lives on the 15th floor, said she immediately grabbed her cousin, aunt and pet dog when she realized the fire.
↑ Firefighters rescued through a ladder
"I was drinking coffee in the living room and smelling smoke." Diaz said, "We didn't know what to do. Looking out of the window, I saw them taking the bodies with blankets." Diaz's niece said, "We saw a bunch of bodies coming out. My childhood playmate also died."
According to New York police, the fire has killed 19 people, including 9 of the victims. Of the 63 injured, more than ten were treated on the spot, and more than 30 were taken to the hospital due to serious illness. Police announced later that day that 13 injured people in the hospital were still in critical condition.
"It's a terrible, horrible, painful moment for New York City." New York Mayor Eric Adams said the fire was one of the worst in modern history in the city.
alarm often "lie to" the fire situation. Most residents are immigrants
It is reported that the reason why some residents did not escape the building in time may be that the fire alarm in this building "often keeps ringing."
Chania Hunter, who lives on the 10th floor, said the fire alarms in the apartment building were "not uncommon" and residents were used to hearing it. "If it kept ringing, how could it be known that a fire had actually happened?" Hunter said, until a neighbor called her that she knew the fire alarm was true. "We saw the fire burning outside the window, and they had to smash the window to save people."
Another resident who lives on the 18th floor also revealed that because the fire alarm kept ringing, "it sounded at least twice a week", people may not have escaped the building. "I turn the volume up when watching a movie because it keeps ringing," the resident said. "I don't know if something is wrong with it. People don't take it seriously after hearing it many times. They don't know that the fire broke out until they see smoke."
↑The building where the fire broke out is home to a large number of immigrants.
In response to this, fire officials said on the afternoon of the 9th that they will investigate the fire alarm system of the building. "We are shocked by the huge tragedy that caused unimaginable loss of life. We are working with the fire department and other city agencies to investigate the cause of the accident, and we are doing everything we can to help residents," the company that belongs to the apartment building said in a statement after the fire. However, the statement did not respond to the alarm system issues pointed out by the accident survivors.
At a press conference on the disaster, New York Mayor Adams said that the building where the fire occurred was home to a large number of immigrants, many of which were from the East Coast of Africa, Gambia . Adams stressed that residents who requested government assistance would not be handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said a compensation fund will be established for victims of the fire to help them provide funds for housing, funeral expenses and other essentials.
Hochur said: "We rebuild their lives and give them hope, especially those who come from the Gambia, Africa." Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer also said at the press conference that the federal government is reviewing various forms of aid, including housing and tax aid and immigration aid, "so that families can be reunited."
Red Star News reporter Wang Yalin Intern Reporter Hu Yiling
Editor Zhang Xun
(Download Red Star News , report with prizes!)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-