1-year-old killed, 2 children critically injured in Bronx apartment fire

A 1-year-old child has died and two 6-year-old children are critically injured after a fire tore through an apartment building in New York City’s Bronx borough, forcing residents to windows as flames spread through the hallway and up the stairs, according to fire officials. Five others were injured.

The fire was reported shortly after 3:30 p.m. Monday at 2609 Bainbridge Avenue, between East 193rd and 194th streets, in the Fordham neighborhood of the Bronx. FDNY officials said heavy fire was coming from a second-floor apartment and extending into the building’s interior stairwell when firefighters arrived.

Chief of Special Operations Malcolm Moore said firefighters stretched a hose line inside the building to attack the fire while other crews searched the apartment. They found three children inside and removed them in critical condition.

“All victims were in the fire apartment,” Moore said. “One is a 1-year-old and two 6-year-olds. I believe the 6-year-olds were twins.”

The three children were taken to local hospitals in critical condition, EMS Deputy Chief Staci Grguric said. The 1-year-old was later pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital, according to CBS News.

Two adults were also taken to hospitals with non-critical injuries, and three firefighters were transported with minor injuries, Grguric said.

The fire spread rapidly through the stairwell and toward the roof, forcing some residents to windows as they looked for a way out. Firefighters prepared for a roof rescue while interior crews worked to knock down the flames and reach people trapped inside.

“There’s extensive fire damage to the hallway and to a portion of the fire apartment, but most of the rest of the building is largely intact,” Moore said, adding that officials do not expect a large-scale relocation of residents.

About 20 units and 80 firefighters responded to the all-hands fire. Fire marshals are at the scene investigating the cause and origin.

Moore said the apartment door appears to have been left open after occupants fled, allowing heavy fire to spread into the hallway.

“We’ve had several of these fires lately where the occupants of the fire apartment have fled the building and left the apartment door open,” Moore said. “That appears to be the case here again because of the heavy amount of fire that we found in the hallway on arrival.”

“If there’s one message that I could deliver, it is close the door,” Moore said. “It is tough to do. It’s tough to wrap your mind around having to do that, but the minute you close that door, you give everyone else in the building an opportunity to flee, and you give yourself more time to flee by not allowing the fire to chase behind you.”