A five-alarm fire tore through a six-story apartment building at 2910 Wallace Ave. in the East Bronx early Friday morning, leaving seven injured and displacing dozens of families.
Massive response and destruction
The fire, which broke out around 1:40 a.m., required a response from approximately 200 FDNY firefighters. Flames engulfed the roof and spread rapidly due to “heavy wind conditions,” according to John Esposito, the FDNY’s Chief of Department.
“The fire had too much headway. It was extremely dangerous for our firefighters,” Esposito said.
The fire started in the cockloft—the space between the ceiling and roof—though the exact cause remains under investigation.
The building’s roof was entirely destroyed, and the top-floor apartments were consumed by flames. Lower floors suffered severe flooding as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
Residents lose homes and belongings
Vanessa, a tenant of five years, described the devastating impact.
“I know my apartment is done. I lost everything,” she said, recounting how fire alarms failed to go off.
Vanessa said she and her husband were alerted to the fire by the sound of fire engines. Despite the chaos, she claimed there was no immediate directive to evacuate.
“The electricity went off in the building, and that’s when they moved everybody to the lobby,” she added.
Injuries and displacement
Seven people were injured in the fire, including five firefighters and two civilians. None of the injuries were life-threatening, and one civilian declined hospitalization after being treated at the scene.
At least 66 families have been displaced. A temporary relief center was set up at P.S. 76, the Bennington School, near the damaged building to provide assistance.
History of heating issues
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but records show the building has been plagued with heating complaints. Since November, 311 received about 70 complaints of no heat in the building.
Some residents may have resorted to space heaters or ovens to keep warm, a potential fire hazard.
“From the FDNY’s perspective, we would ask people not to do that,” Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker said. “It’s cold weather. Obviously, that’s a very dangerous situation.”
Landlord’s response
Parkash Management, the building’s landlord, declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Officials continue to investigate the blaze and work with displaced families to provide temporary shelter and support.
