The death toll in Wednesday’s Bronx apartment fire has risen to four.
Two teenagers and a woman died at the hospital Friday, two days after an 11-year-old boy was killed.
The fire broke out inside an 11th-floor apartment at NYCHA’s Patterson Houses on Morris Avenue just before 1 a.m. Wednesday.
Zion Maine, 11, was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Four others – 15-year-old CJ, 16-year-old Jamaree, 33-year-old Syida Adams Patterson, and 37-year-old Courtney Maine – were critically injured.
Officials said Adams Patterson, Jamaree and CJ died from their injuries Friday.
Courtney Maine, who is Zion and CJ’s father, remains in the hospital.
Adams Patterson was Jamaree’s mother and Courtney Maine’s longtime partner.
A memorial now lines the entrance to the apartment building, with photos of the family hanging outside.
Neighbor Kristina Diaz said she lived next door to the family of five.
“They were friendly, and no matter what time you walked out this building the husband [said], good morning queen, good morning king,” she said. “Very polite, very friendly.”
Diaz said Zion, Jamaree and CJ loved basketball.
“Every day, you see them leaving off the ramp going to play ball,” she said.
Diaz said the loss was hurtful.
“As long as I’m in this building, they will never be forgotten. Never, never,” she said.
Officials said an e-scooter’s lithium-ion battery sparked the fire as it was charging near the front door in the kitchen.
“It was placed in a spot in the kitchen that made it impossible for the residents to leave safely,” Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said Wednesday.
According to fire officials, lithium-ion batteries have caused 401 fires and six deaths so far this year, not including the deaths from Wednesday’s fire.
“These tragedies are preventable. I want to urge New Yorkers to please heed our calls and to store these devices outside,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Wednesday.
NYCHA allows e-bikes and e-scooters to be stored inside apartments, but they say the devices cannot block exits, and an adult must be awake and present while it is charging.
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