- Firefighters respond to a building fire Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in the Bronx borough of New York. (Photo Credit: Photo via Twitter @FDNY )
- Firefighters respond to a building fire Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in the Bronx borough of New York. (Photo Credit: Photo via Twitter @FDNY )
- Firefighters respond to a building fire Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in the Bronx borough of New York. (Photo Credit: Photo via Twitter @FDNY )
- Firefighters respond to a building fire Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in the Bronx borough of New York. (Photo Credit: Photo via Twitter @FDNY )
Twelve people were killed and four more were seriously injured and fighting for their lives late Thursday in a fast-moving fire at an apartment building on a frigid night in the Bronx, according to New York City’s mayor.
The victims included a child around a year old, Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a briefing outside the building.
“We may lose others as well,” he said.
Based on the info now, I'm sorry to report 12 New Yorkers are dead, including 1 child. 4 people are critically injured, fighting for their lives, and there are other serious injuries as well –@NYCMayor de Blasio
— FDNY (@FDNY) December 29, 2017
Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro called the fire, “historic in its magnitude,” because of the number of lives lost.
“Our hearts go out to every person who lost a loved one here and everyone who is fighting for their lives,” he said.
The blaze broke out at a five-story building, a block from the grounds of the Bronx Zoo.
About 170 firefighters worked in bone-chilling cold, just 15 degrees, to rescue people from the building. Water sprayed from hoses froze into ice on the street.
The fire began on the first floor just before 7 p.m. and quickly ripped through much of the building, officials said.
Neighborhood resident Robert Gonzalez, who has a friend who lives in the building, said she got out on a fire escape as another resident fled with five children.
“When I got here, she was crying,” Gonzalez said.
Windows on some upper floors were smashed and blackened.
“The smoke was crazy, people screaming, ‘Get out!,” a witness, Jamal Flicker, told the New York Post. “I heard a woman yelling, ‘We’re trapped, help!”
According to city records, the building had no elevator. Fire escapes were visible on the facade of the building.
One of the deadliest fires in recent city memory happened elsewhere in the Bronx in 2007. Nine children and one adult died in a blaze sparked by a space heater.
This tragedy is, without question, historic in its magnitude. Our hearts go out to every family who lost a loved one here and everyone fighting for their lives –#FDNY Commissioner Nigro
— FDNY (@FDNY) December 29, 2017
Fire started on the first floor and quickly spread upstairs. People died on various floors, they range in ages from 1 to over 50 –#FDNY Commissioner Nigro
— FDNY (@FDNY) December 29, 2017
In a Department that's certainly no stranger to tragedy, we're shocked at this loss, 12 have died, and 4 are fighting for their lives –#FDNY Commissioner Nigro
— FDNY (@FDNY) December 29, 2017
Despite their heroic efforts we have a scene here in which 12 people have died, and 4 are fighting for their lives –#FDNY Commissioner Nigro
— FDNY (@FDNY) December 29, 2017
Because of FDNY's quick response, at least 12 people were rescued –@NYCMayor de Blasio
— FDNY (@FDNY) December 29, 2017
Based on the info now, I'm sorry to report 12 New Yorkers are dead, including 1 child. 4 people are critically injured, fighting for their lives, and there are other serious injuries as well –@NYCMayor de Blasio
— FDNY (@FDNY) December 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/FDNY/status/946580999726620672
Over 160 #FDNY members are operating on scene of a 4-alarm fire, 2363 Prospect Ave #Bronx pic.twitter.com/wjN9mMqCHU
— FDNY (@FDNY) December 29, 2017
Mayor de Blasio is en route to the scene of the fire in the Bronx. https://t.co/INf1hwenmv
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) December 29, 2017
Mayor's office confirms 6 dead, more than a dozen seriously injured in 4-alarm fire at 2363 Prospect Ave. in the Bronx. More than 160 firefighters on-scene. Neighbors and Red Cross out here donating blankets, jackets, sneakers, etc. to victims on one of coldest nights this year. pic.twitter.com/4XkXTrlDpH
— CeFaan Kim (@CeFaanKim) December 29, 2017