Image courtesy of the Citizens’ App
There were no reported injuries after a fire broke out in a 4-story building in Fordham Manor on Wednesday afternoon, March 12, fire department officials said, adding that a hazmat unit was, however, needed due to the discovery of a burning lithium-ion battery on site.
An FDNY spokesperson said the department received a call at 2.03 p.m. on March 12 for a report of smoke at 2541 Bainbridge Avenue by Coles Lane and East Kingsbridge Road. They said upon arrival, firefighters requested that the hazmat unit be dispatched.
Image courtesy of Google Maps
Asked if the fire originated from a lithium-ion battery / e-bike or if the battery had caught fire as a result of existing flames caused by another fire source, the spokesperson said the cause was still under investigation.
Fire units were seen trying to access the fire site from both Bainbridge Avenue and from East Kingsbridge Road, specifically in front of 305 East Kingsbridge Road (by King of Gold jewelry store and others).
As reported, this was the site of an illegal and unsafe migrant shelter from where migrants had been removed for their safety in February 2024, and which was allegedly run by man who was also reportedly operating a separate illegal shelter seemingly at the old Fordham Library building also on Bainbridge Avenue. The building where the migrants were being illegally housed was gated and shuttered when we visited the site on March 12.
Image courtesy of the Citizens’ App
Meanwhile the affected building located at 2541 Bainbridge Avenue which is located adjacent to the back of 305 East Kingsbridge Road is an NYC Human Resources Administration building. We’ve asked the agency what the building is used for and if anyone lives there. We will share any updates we receive. Norwood News has reached out to the Red Cross to ask if any residents had been affected and will share any updates we receive.
A few blocks from the fire site is another building at 2586 Bainbridge Avenue which, as reported, was proposed as a transitional housing development site, until residents strongly objected to the plan.
Photo by Miriam Quinones
Meanwhile, on Thursday morning, March 13, a 5-alarm fire broke out in Morris Heights, devastating a number of local businesses, similar to the commercial fire that occurred on Banbridge Avenue in Norwood in October 2023.
Department officials said they received a call regarding a fire in a restaurant at 2037 Jerome Avenue, a one-story building (756 x 50 sq. ft.) between West Burnside Avenue and East 179th Street, at 8.21 a.m.
Image courtesy of the FDNY
They said 198 units, comprising 138 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene which affected six commercial businesses in total. They said the fire was brought under control at 1.15 p.m. and no injuries were reported. “Cause and origin is under investigation by fire marshals,” they said.
FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito later said in part, “When we arrived at the restaurant on Jerome, we had some fire and smoke in the restaurant. As we were extinguishing the fire, we continued to check the buildings and stores next door and eventually found fire in that whole row of stores coming up West Burnside.”
Photo by Síle Moloney
NYC Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry, FDNY Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker, and others later held a press conference at the scene and said in part that an illegally parked vehicle had, once again, blocked a fire hydrant, slowing down the work of firefighters in responding to the fire. As reported, this was also the case when a fire broke out at a Buddhist Temple in Fordham Heights last month.
“I’m asking all New Yorkers, please, be mindful,” Daughtry said. “Have a little compassion when you’re thinking about parking in front of these fire hydrants, because look at this five-alarm fire that started here behind us. We want our fire department to get there quickly, hook up to the hydrant, and start applying water to this fire.”
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson released a statement following the fire, saying, “Earlier today, a devastating fire broke out near Jerome Avenue and West Burnside Avenue, impacting at least six businesses and causing significant damage. While this situation is still unfolding, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to the brave firefighters and emergency personnel who responded quickly and worked tirelessly to contain the fire. Their courage and professionalism in the face of danger are a testament to their commitment to keeping our community safe.”
Gibson added, “I also want to extend my thoughts to the business owners and families who have been affected by this fire. We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide support and resources to those impacted.” Norwood News reached out to the Red Cross to ask if any residents had been rehoused.
Photo by David Greene
Desiree Ramos Reiner responded, saying, “At this time, the American Red Cross has not received any requests for assistance after this fire and it is our understanding that the fire on Jerome Avenue has not impacted any residential buildings. If any residents are impacted by this fire and need help with their recovery, they should call 1-877-RED CROSS(877-733-2767) and select Option 1.”
On the same day, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Tucker declared 2025 “Fire Prevention Year” in New York City to mark the 100th anniversary of National Fire Prevention Week. They said the announcement comes on the heels of the department’s response to several high-profile multiple-alarm fires in the city during the first two months of 2025. During his remarks, the mayor also made refernce to the fatal Twin Parks fire which killed 17 people in January 2022.
During Fire Prevention Year, FDNY officials said they will host thousands of public education events across the five boroughs and provide targeted fire prevention and life safety educational resources to 100 blocks identified by the department as having the highest risk of fires.
Norwood News has reported on some previous such fire safety initiatives held locally. Additionally, Tucker announced the release of Community Risk Assessments for all 59 community boards in the city, which provide a detailed analysis of each neighborhood’s emergency preparedness and vulnerability to fire incidents.
Photo courtesy of the FDNY
“When New Yorkers face danger, this administration takes decisive action,” said Adams. “We have relentlessly worked to get unsafe e-bikes, e-scooters, and lithium-ion batteries off our streets, and worked with communities to educate them on heater safety and the importance of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The FDNY will continue to host thousands of public education events across the five boroughs, providing targeted fire prevention and life safety resources to 100 blocks with the highest risk of fires. We are urging New Yorkers to protect themselves through education.”
As reported, the American Red Cross encourages residents to test their smoke alarms to make sure the devices are working and replace the batteries if needed. They said over the past year, local Red Cross volunteers responded to help more than 10,000 people in the Greater New York region affected by nearly 1,400 home fires, which account for most of the roughly 65,000 disasters the Red Cross responds to annually across the country.
Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to create and practice with your family, or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in app stores.
Image courtesy of the Citizens App
Officials said if you need help or if you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. For more information about this, visit www.soundthealarm.org/gny and learn about how to volunteer to help make your community safer against the risk of home fires.
As also reported, Norwood News launched a Freedom of Information request with the FDNY to request a copy of the fire report including the cause of the Bainbridge Avenue commercial fire which occurred in October 2023, and despite following up with the department on several occasions, we have not received the report. We chased again for an update today and will share any feedback we receive.
A school bus fire in the Allerton section of The Bronx on Monday, March 10, resulted in no injuries according to the FDNY. The fire took place on the same day that former residents of 2910 Wallace Avenue, also in Allerton, were scheduled to come together to reflect on the devastating Bronx fire that left eight injured and more than 250 in need of emergency shelter when a fire tore through their six-story apartment building just two months ago, as reported.
The former residents were scheduled to memorialize the catastrophic event with a community vigil and provide an update on the progress made over the past two months and the support they will need in the weeks and months ahead.
Photo by David Greene
As reported, in the early hours of Jan. 10, the Allerton fire broke out prompting a 5-alarm response. More than 250 residents who called the building home were forced into shelter and had to rebuild, having lost everything in the blaze.
Closer to home, as also reported, a brush fire was extinguished in the Jerome Avenue in Bedford Park at 3119 Jerome Avenue, between West 205th Street and West Bedford Park Boulevard, on Wednesday, March 5, at 11.38 a.m.
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. Your quick action can make the difference.”
Photo courtesy of the Citizens’ App
For more coverage on Bronx brush fires, click here, here, here, here, here.
For more on recent fires in the local area, click here, here, here, here and here.
“For 100 years, National Fire Prevention Week has been a vital opportunity to raise awareness about fire safety and prevention,” said Tucker during the announcement of Fire Safety Prevention Year. “As we commemorate this milestone, we are proud to dedicate 2025 as ‘Fire Prevention Year’ in New York City. The FDNY is committed to empowering our communities with the knowledge and tools to prevent fires and protect lives.”
He added, “Through over a thousand public education events, our dedicated teams will continue to engage with New Yorkers across all five boroughs. By focusing on the 100 most fire-prone blocks and providing tailored Community Risk Assessments, we are strengthening our efforts to keep every neighborhood safer. Together, we can ensure that fire prevention remains a priority every day of the year.”
*David Greene & Miriam Quinones contributed to this story.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to [email protected] or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.