Firefighters said the deadly five-alarm blaze in the Belmont section of the Bronx spread so quickly due to doors being left open.
Flames broke out Tuesday afternoon at a five-story building on 187th Street. More than 200 fire and EMS personnel responded as heavy smoke poured out of the building.
Chief of Operations Kevin Woods said Friday that there are three things people should do if there is a fire: leave immediately, close the door behind you and call 911.
“During this fire, the apartment door to the fire apartment was left open, so the fire, the heat, the smoke, the contaminants spread throughout this building, trapping members in their apartment,” he said.
Two people were killed after being trapped in a stairwell. Eleven people were injured, including five firefighters.
About 80 people were also displaced due to the blaze.
Firefighter details rescue
FDNY Captain Hunt said firefighters saw multiple people on the roof and fire escapes when they arrived.
He spoke about saving one man who was trapped on the third floor inside the building. The man was completely cut off from any fire escape. Rescuers were able to use portable ladders to get him out as Hunt talked the man through what to do. At one point, the man told Hunt he was exhausted and couldn’t get out.
“I told him you’re gonna make it,” Hunt said.
Hunt commended the crews involved for their teamwork.
“The operation, like I said, with every guy that came here, was unbelievable,” he said.
Community remembers teen killed
Michelle Gonzalez, 17, was one of the victims, according to her sister-in-law. Business owners who knew her are mourning her loss.
“Those of us who really knew her will carry her with us,” said local pizza shop owner David Angeles
The identity of the second victim has not been released yet.
Residents lose everything
Resident Luciano Silva said he only had minutes to get out when he noticed the fire.
“It was me and my mom, and my dogs. We had a cat, but sadly, he wasn’t able to get out,” Silva said. “[I’m] hopeful one day we can be able to get back inside to see if we can salvage anything because we lost everything in it.”
Surveillance video showed people rushing to escape the building as the fire burned. Neighbors were seen trying to bring residents to safety using ladders.
Another video shows a person with smoke coming off his clothes as others rushed to help him. Abdulrahman Albahri, who works at a nearby deli, was among the community members who jumped in.
“They’re like family,” he said.
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