By SÍLE MOLONEY
FLAMES BURST THROUGH the building located at 505 East 184th Street between Bassford Avenue and Bathgath Avenue in the Belmont section of The Bronx in the early hours of Thursday, March 26, 2026, after a fire broke out on the top floor and in the cockloft.
Photo courtesy of the FDNY
One person has died and nine other people were injured after a residential fire broke out in the Belmont section of The Bronx in the early hours of Thursday, March 26, FDNY officials said.
A department spokesperson said the FDNY received a 911 call at 5.30 a.m. for a report of a fire on the top floor, in the cockloft, and in the roof of a 5-story, non fireproof, multiple dwelling located at 505 East 184th Street, located between Bassford Avenue and Bathgath Avenue.
“The cockloft is a space above the top floor ceiling and below the roof line so it’s very difficult to access that fire,” FDNY Chief Kevin Woods later said.
FDNY officials said a second alarm was raised at 5.37 a.m., and units arrived in around 4 minutes. They said a third alarm was raised at 5.46 a.m., a fourth alarm at 6.17 a.m. a fifth alarm at 7.24 a.m. and that 84 fire and EMS units, comprising 270 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene.
Fire officials said the final update of death and injuries following the blaze was that one person had died, and nine people were aided, including 6 firefighters who they said incurred minor injuries and two civilians, who they said also incurred minor injuries. They said all were transported to area hospitals, and the fire was brought under control at 8.12 a.m.
A FIREFIGHTER CLIMBS a ladder to respond to a fire at 505 East 184th Street between Bassford Avenue and Bathgath Avenue in the Belmont section of The Bronx in the early hours of Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Photo courtesy of the FDNY
FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods later said during a press conference held later on Thursday morning, “Upon arrival, units encountered heavy fire on the top floor extending into the cockloft and through the roof. Members stretched multiple handlines to the top floor and into the cockloft space, opening up to reach fire in an area that is inherently difficult to access.”
He added, “We moved in with multiple hand lines, five hand lines to the top floor, into the roof area, also used exterior streams from our tower ladders. You see them operating right now.”
The chief said the deceased person was found dead in the apartment where the fire broke out, and that the impacted firefighters had incurred minor, non life-threatening injuries i.e. heat exhaustion, minor sprains. He said there was heavy damage to the building and the roof had collapsed into the top floor.
Woods continued, “There was also extensive collapse of the cornice. The cornice is a decorative portion of the exterior wall. It is non-structural in nature but we can only access it from the exterior. We had heavy fire in the cornice; that cornice did collapse.”
The fire chief said fire operations continued throughout Thursday morning, and the FDNY used drone technology to aid the operations from the air, adding that leveraging the drone technology enhanced safety during fire operation responses as they include thermal imaging cameras which are used to identify all the hot spots.
He said the 5-alarm fire was brought under control as above at 8.12 a.m. and over 280 firefighters and EMS personnel were deployed in the end in response to the blaze. Woods said the cause is under investigation by fire marshals.
FIRE CHIEF KEVIN Woods and other FDNY members give a press conference at 505 East 184th Street in the Belmont section of The Bronx on Thursday, March 26, 2026, after a residential fatal fire broke out earlier that morning around 5 a.m.
Screenshot courtesy of the FDNY
Norwood News has reached out to the Red Cross for details of any displaced residents and will share any updates we receive. Generally, the Red Cross says anyone affected by a fire can call (877) 733-2767 or 877-REDCROSS for help and select Option 1.
As reported, there were no injuries reported following a separate residential fire in the Kingsbridge Heights section of The Bronx that also broke out in the early hours of Thursday, March 26, FDNY officials said.
Also, as reported, thirteen people were reported injured following an afternoon residential fire in the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx on Tuesday, March 17, [St. Patrick’s Day] in a six-building complex which houses around seven daycare centers.
That incident followed another large fire, as reported, where several small businesses were damaged on East Gun Hill Road in the Laconia section of the East Bronx on March 6. The latest fires have prompted Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and the FDNY to launch a further series of fire education and safety workshops across the borough.
FIRE SAFETY WORKSHOP Dates Part I
Image courtesy of the Office of Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson
The FDNY also responded to a less serious fire in the Kingsbridge Heights section of The Bronx the same night, as reported.
On March 18, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson announced that, in conjunction with the FDNY, in response to the high number of fires experienced across the borough in recent times, fire education and safety workshops would be rolled out across the borough in the weeks ahead. “We hope that you will find the time to attend one of these important workshops for you and your family,” she said.
“From smoke alarm demonstrations, to common causes of fires, our community is learning emergency preparedness tips on how to stay safe and ready in any situation,” she added, “Find a workshop that works best for you and your family. Locations are listed on our website.”
FIRE SAFETY WORKSHOP dates Part II
Flier courtesy of the Office of the Bronx Borough President
As reported, two injuries were reported following a recent residential fire in the Norwood section of the Bronx on Decatur Avenue on March 13.
Click here to read FDNY’s fire safety tips. “During a fire, always close the door behind you!” fire officials say. “It helps contain smoke and flames, giving you precious time to escape.”