NYFD Firefighters respond to a fire that consumed four stores in Riverdale, Bronx.
*updated January 2022
Samantha Alvarez reported this story before a fire in the Bronx took the lives of 17 people on January 9, 2022. An electric space heater caused the fire that spread quickly and spewed smoke through the 19-story apartment building. The New York City medical examiner said smoke inhalation caused the death of the eight children and nine adults. Fire officials said an open door in the 15th floor apartment where the fire started and another open door in a hallway helped the fire spread. Both doors were supposed to close automatically.
In the 1970’s the Bronx lost buildings and precious affordable housing to fires that many suspect were set by arsonists. In 2021, when the FDNY responded to fires, firefighters discovered the cause was something else. Samantha Alvarez reports.
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