Two firefighters were treated for minor injuries after a four-alarm, residential fire broke out in the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx on Wednesday night, displacing dozens of residents. According to the FDNY, the department received a call at 5.56 p.m. on Jan. 15 for reports of a fire on the fourth floor of a 4-story building at 3030 Heath Avnue between Albany Crescent and Summit Place.

 

Fortunately the fire broke out within walking distance of the local Ladder 46 firehouse, located at Bailey Avenue and Heath Avenue.

 

FDNY Assistant Chief Kevin Woods, chief of operations, said the multiple dwelling was a Class 3, H-type building [60 X 60] or utility property, which, in New York City, consists of land, buildings, specialized structures, and equipment. “Fire extended to the cockloft,” FDNY officials said.

According to APX Data, in firefighting, a cockloft is a term used to describe the space between the ceiling of the top floor of a building and the roof. This space is often used for storage and is not typically occupied by people. During a fire, the cockloft can present a significant hazard to firefighters, according to experts. At the recent residential fire at 2910 Wallace Avenue in Allerton, which also displaced dozens of residents, the fire had also extended to the cockloft,” as reported. Read our follow-up story on that fire here.

 

FDNY officials said a 2nd alarm was raised for the Heath Avenue fire at 6.10 p.m., a third alarm at 6.15 p.m. and a 4th alarm at 6.40 p.m. The department said 39 units, comprising 168 fire and EMS personnel responded to the blaze, which according to Diana Finch from the East Bronx Residents Association could be seen from her home on the 9th floor of her building in the East Bronx.

 

The FDNY said the blaze was brought under control at 8.08 p.m. and FDNY fire marshals are investigating the cause. Woods later said in part, “We arrived here in under four minutes. Upon arrival, we had heavy fire on the top floor, the cockloft, and through the roof. Our engine companies moved in very aggressively, stretching multiple hand lines to that top floor and also to the roof. Our ladder companies also did a phenomenal job opening up many of the voids in that cockloft and cutting open the roof.”

He added in part, “There are no injuries to any of the occupants. There is extensive damage to approximately six to eight apartments. The fire is under control, and again, our units did a phenomenal job preventing further extension and damage.”

 

We spoke to Miguel, the super of the building, who lives in the basement with his family. Speaking in Spanish, he said everyone had been evacuated. Residents both from the affected building and some neighbors from other nearby buildings were seen standing in the cold on the street on an evening where temperatures had dropped to 28 degrees Fahrenheit, and frost and ice was seen on the street in places.

 

We asked Miguel if he knew how the fire started. He said, “I don’t know. I’m ok. I was downstairs.” He said his family were also ok. Miguel said those in the third and fourth floors in both buildings couldn’t return due to the fire damage. He seemed to believe the residents on the lower floors could. We’re checking with the Red Cross if that was the case and will update this story upon receipt of clarification.

A Red Cross spokesperon later said, “After the fire on Heath Avenue in The Bronx, the American Red Cross has registered 17 households and 34 individuals (of which four are children) for emergency assistance including temporary lodging. Our Disaster Action Team also provided meals, blankets, toiletries, and other care items to impacted residents.”

The spokesperson added, “The Red Cross is still on scene to help connect with additional impacted residents. Any residents impacted by this fire who need help with their recovery and are not able to connect with the Red Cross on scene should call 1-877-RED CROSS (877-733-2767) and select option 1.”

 

Two MTA “Out of Service” buses were seen being waived past a police vehicle on Bailey Avenue at one point, likely called to pick up residents and transport them elsewhere. A Red Cross official was overheard talking to an official we believe was with NYC Department of Emergency Management about the possibility of relocating residents to a local school for registration.

Fire and emergency units could be seen all along Bailey Avenue from at least 230th Street, and the NYPD had blocked off the other end of Bailey Avenue at 231st Street. Meanwhile, Heath Avenue was also blocked off by the NYPD to vehicle traffic at Summit Place as more fire units, a Con Ed vehicle, and emergency vehicles almost filled the street to Bailey Avenue. An official from NYC Department of Sanitation was also seen at the site of the fire. Asked if a fire alarm had gone off, Miguel said, “No, no, no.”

 

We spoke to three other female residents, two of whom were just coming home from work to find the building on fire and one of whom had been inside in her third-floor apartment when the fire broke out. They all said they and their families were safe. One of the residents commented that it was a “lucky” time that the fire broke out as most people were at work.

 

The woman who had been inside her apartment appeared slightly traumatized by the event. Speaking in Spanish, she said, “When I saw the smoke, I exited. The fire was upstairs on the fourth [floor]. I opened the door of the kitchen, and I heard the neighbors calling, ‘Run, madam!’ and we went down the stairs.”

Asked if she knew what started the fire, she said, “No, because it was upstairs. I don’t know.” Asked if it was difficult getting out with the smoke, she said it was more or less okay but water was falling down on top of them as they exited from the higher floors [as firefighters attacked the flames]. Asked if she had seen any injured people, she said, “No, no, no, it was calm.” Asked if she recalled hearing a fire alarm go off, she said she didn’t but heard the firefighters outside.

 

We asked the FDNY about alleged reports that no fire alarm was heard by some residents, and they responded, saying, “Part of the investigation conducted by Fire Marshals.”

Later we spoke to another female resident of the area who lived in 3018 Heath Avenue who said she was on her way home from work when she received a call from her 33-year-old son who lived in another building nearby (but not the affected fire building). Speaking in both Spanish and English, the resident said her son said to her, “’Mommy, mommy, be careful. There’s fire in the building.’”

 

Click here to view a short video of the scene, after the fire was extinguished.