A raging fire the Bronx has killed a one-year-old boy and left his brother and sister fighting for their lives in critical condition, authorities tell the News. The afternoon blaze tore through a five-story building on Bainbridge Avenue .
The children were found by first responders and removed from a second-floor apartment. All three were rushed to Saint Barnabas Hospital with a one year-old baby was pronounced dead, police said. The boy and girl are both 6.
“I smelled smoke and I saw through the gate the flames rising,“ said Teresa Duran 42 a social service worker who was outside the five story apartment building. “I started screaming get out there’s a fire get out.”
“There was a little girl on the sidewalk saying her brothers were stuck inside the bathroom,“ Duran said fighting tears “my baby brothers are stuck in there and they need help.”
A FDNY investigator is pictured inside an apartment building on Bainbridge Ave. in the Bronx after a fatal fire on Monday, May 11, 2026. (Barry Williams/ New York Daily News)
The firefighters brought out three kids, two boys and one little girl,” Duran said. “They held them in the arms.”
The blaze broke out around 3:40 PM on Bainbridge Avenue between East 193rd and E. 194th St. One adult had serious injuries and another person minor injuries. Three firefighters were also treated for less serious injuries at a local hospital.
“Black smoke was coming out of the second floor apartment,” said Tommy Lopez 40 a supermarket maintenance worker.”A lady on the sidewalk was screaming for help. ‘ Help me my kids are in there.’”
“ I ran into the building and up through the black smoke.“ he said. “A big fireball came out into the hall.
“Nobody I mean, nobody could get into that Apartment,“ he said “it was too much”
FDNY and Red Cross personnel are pictured outside an apartment building on Bainbridge Ave. in the Bronx after a fatal fire on Monday, May 11, 2026. (Barry Williams/ New York Daily News)
“We’ve have several of these fires lately where The occupants of the fire department have fled The apartment building and left the apartment door open. This appears to be the case here again,” said Malcolm Moore, FDNY Chief of Special Operations.
“If there’s one message I could deliver, it’s close the door.”
This is a developing story.