Haji Dukuray is still in mourning four years after five of his family members died in the Twin Parks high-rise fire in the Bronx.
What You Need To Know
A prayer vigil was held at the Ar-Rahmah mosque on Webster Avenue on Friday, marking the fourth anniversary of the blaze
Authorities say a faulty space heater caused the deadly fire
Several elected officials spoke at Friday’s vigil, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Attorney General Letitia James and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
“Especially when the names are read. When those names are read, it’s like the wound comes up all over again. It’s never easy hearing the names,” said Dukuray, who attended a prayer vigil at the Ar-Rahmah mosque on Webster Avenue on Friday.
Mourners marked the fourth anniversary of the blaze, which killed 17 people, including children. Dozens more were injured, and hundreds were displaced.
Officials say a faulty space heater caused the fire.
Dukuray’s niece died in the blaze, along with her husband and three young children.
“I remember my five-year-old niece, placing her in the grave. Her body being the last person to touch her. It just brings back memories. That was my first time ever touching a lifeless body,” Dukuray said.
On the day of the fire, Dukuray says his grandnephew Mustaffah was knocking on his neighbors’ doors, telling them to run out of the burning building.
“I would not be so brave. That was Mustaffah. That was the type of person he was. He was just 12 years old but full of life,” Dukuray said.
Several elected officials spoke at Friday’s vigil, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Attorney General Letitia James and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
Residents and elected officials alike have been calling for better prevention and systemic changes in the Bronx.
“They’re just overwhelmed here, so when we have multiple alarms, it takes longer for the other units to get into place and the fire grows. In December, there were 29 multiple-alarm fires in the city of New York. Eight of them were in the Bronx,” Andrew Ansbro, the president of the Uniformed Fire Association, said.
Dukuray says he’s grateful for the support he’s gotten from the community and hopes that no one else will ever suffer such a tragic loss.
“Look at the support we have here. The prayers and support from the community is what really keeps us going. And the effort and work that we’ve seen from our leadership and elected officials. The fact that we know they’ve been working hard for this same thing not to happen to any other family makes us feel good, and we’re thankful.”
Lawmakers have introduced fire safety regulations in recent years, including inspections of self-closing doors and the installation of heat sensors in federally subsidized buildings.