Video of a reported Parkchester fire on July 31, 2021, courtesy of Citizen

Three additional residential fires were reported over the weekend in the University Heights, Fordham Heights and Parkchester neighborhoods of the Bronx, though only two were referenced by the FDNY in their Twitter alerts. We are currently waiting on the FDNY to confirm the third, as well as providing further details on all three incidents.

 

Norwood News recently reported on three separate reported fires which occurred in the borough on Friday, July 30.

 

According to the Citizen’s App, one fire occurred at 5 Metropolitan Oval in Parkchester on Saturday, July 31, at around 10.16 p.m.

 

 

A verified video uploaded to the Citizens’ App shows various FDNY trucks at the scene, with users reporting smoke coming from the first floor of a building at the location.

 

Users later said there was a fire on the sixth floor, possibly coming from a trash compactor. At around 10.46 p.m., users reported that FDNY officials allegedly confirmed that the fire was under control, that they had completed two searches of the 6th floor and that they had not found anyone trapped or injured. Users added that the FDNY officials allegedly said the fire was regarded as suspicious.

 

Norwood News reached out to FDNY for confirmation of the incident and did not receive an immediate response. There was no Twitter alert sent out by FDNY in relation to the incident.

 

Bronx All Hands Box 3157, 2155 GRAND AVE, Multiple Dwelling 'A' Fire

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) August 1, 2021

At 00.54 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 1, the FDNY issued a Twitter alert calling on “All Hands” to respond to a fire at 2155 Grand Avenue in University Heights.

 

The fire was also reported on the Citizens’ App on Aug. 1 at 00.49 a.m. Users reported that firefighters were at the scene and said there was a fire on the third floor of a six-story apartment building at the location.

 

Citizen App users added at one point that firefighters had completed two searches and had not found anyone trapped or injured.

 

Users later said that firefighters requested an additional engine to help with the fire as well as reportedly calling on EMS to aid an injured person.

 

At around 1.13 a.m., users reported that FDNY officials said the fire was under control, that one person had sustained injuries, and that the injuries were not considered life-threatening.

 

At 1.10 a.m., the FDNY issued a Twitter update, confirming the fire was under control. Again, Norwood News reached out to the FDNY to obtain direction information about the incident. We did not receive an immediate response.

 

Bronx All Hands Box 3157, 2155 GRAND AVE, Multiple Dwelling 'A' Fire, APT C9, Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) August 1, 2021

A third fire was reported by FDNY on Twitter on Saturday morning, July 31, at around 8.30 a.m. at 2015 Creston Avenue in Fordham Heights, where again, “All Hands” were asked to respond to a fire at a multiple dwelling.

 

Video of University Heights fire dated Aug. 1, 2021, courtesy of Citizen

 

At 9.21 a.m., FDNY tweeted that the fire was under control. Once again, Norwood News reached out to the FDNY for further information about this incident.

 

An official responded on Sunday afternoon, confirming that the department was alerted to the fire in a six-story, multiple dwelling at 8.24 a.m. on Saturday. The incident was placed under control at 9.20 a.m. and eight people were reported injured. Four civilians and four firefighters were treated and transported to area hospitals. The official said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Bronx All Hands Box 2996, 2015 CRESTON AVE, Multiple Dwelling 'A' Fire, 2J, Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) July 31, 2021

In addition to the three reported Bronx fires which occurred on Friday, July 30, over the course of the last month or so across the borough, there have been a number of arson incidents, a suspected arson incident, four separate fires which took place over the course of the weekend ending Sunday, June 27, in Norwood and in Morris Heights, the latter destroying several businesses, a residential fire on July 8 at 131 West 197th Street in Kingsbridge Heights, and a recent fire at Tracey Towers in Jerome Park.

Bronx All Hands Box 2996, 2015 CRESTON AVE, Multiple Dwelling 'A' Fire

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) July 31, 2021

 

Again, we have asked FDNY to confirm if these fires are connected in any way, and if there is any evidence to suggest that they are arson-related.

 

So far, FDNY has responded to this question in relation to Friday’s Claremont Village incident only, saying that they could not confirm this point at this time.

We are continuing to follow up with FDNY on the causes of these fires.