Five people are injured following a residential fire at 3514 Rochambeau Avenue by Bainbridge Avenue and East Gun Hill Road in Norwood on Friday afternoon, Feb. 14. An FDNY spokesperson said three were serious but non life-threatening and two were minor. Most were due to smoke inhalation. The fire is currently under control, according to the FDNY. Some videos of it can be seen here, here, here, here, and here, courtesy of local resident, Vincent.

 

FDNY Bronx Borough Commander Mike Woods and other fire officials gave an update during a press conference at the scene of the fire on Friday. “Difficult afternoon for residents of the Norwood section of the Bronx, as well as Bronx firefighters,” he said. “We had a fast-moving fire that started at just afternoon today.”

 

“We had units on the scene in approximately four minutes,” Wood added. “They were immediately confronted with heavy fire conditions on the third floor. Fire then extended to the fourth and fifth floor of this building. It required five hose lines to extinguish. While all that was going on, we did do some search and rescue operations. We currently have five injuries reported.”

Woods continued, “One particular injury came from the fifth floor. It was a young patient that we had to remove from the building. Originally, she took a lot of smoke in her apartment, and then we had to transfer her up to the roof until it became safe enough to remove her down to the building to EMS that was awaiting.”

 

The borough commander went on to say that the fire was currently under control [but not extinguished]. “We will maintain a presence for quite a while,” he added. “We have numerous residents displaced at this fire. Red Cross is on the scene, and actually the cause of the fire is undetermined. At this time, fire marshals are also on the scene, doing their investigation.”

Division Chief John Nevins from EMS gave a further update on the injuries, saying, “We had five civilan patients that were treated by EMS and transported to local hospitals. (Montefiore Medical Center is located steps away from the fire location, and even some of the staff were seen in light scrubs (and no coats, despite the cold) at the fire scene. “Patients are all in stable condition,” Nevins said. “Injuries were due to smoke inhalation.”

 

An FDNY spokesperson later confirmed that the department had received the call at 12.08 p.m. on Friday regarding what was described as a three-alarm fire at 3514 Rochambeau Avenue, a 6-story residential building (100 x 50). They said 33 units, comprising 138 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene, and as above there were five civilian injuries. Operations were ongoing as at 1.53 p.m. on Friday.

 

One eyewitness said they saw a young child being stretchered out and brought to hospital by EMS. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The number to call at the Red Cross for housing assistance is 877 733 2767 or 1-877-Red Cross. Desiree Ramos Reiner, a representative from the Red Cross of Greater New York, later said that it registered nine households (19 adults and eight children) for emergency assistance, including temporary lodging after the fire. “Any residents displaced by this fire who did not connect with the Red Cross team on scene should call 877-RedCross (option 1) for assistance,” she added.

 

To read residents’ reaction to the fire, check out our follow-up story here.

 

Shortly after the fire broke out, some of the fire units were seen racing back down East Gun Hill Road towards the Olinville section of the borough, to the east of Norwood, for a report of another fire for which “all hands” were needed.

FDNY later said they received a call at 1.20 p.m. for a report of a fire at 3301 Olinville Avenue between Rosewood Street and Magenta Street. They said 12 emergency units comprising 60 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and there were no reported injuries. They said the fire was brought under control at 2.19 p.m. and the cause remains under investigation.

 

Meanwhile, a car fire which broke out in a parking lot also on Rochambeau Avenue in Norwood close to Montefiore Medical Center’s Moses campus one day prior to the residential fire, on Thursday, Feb. 13, resulted in no injuries, FDNY officials said.

 

Earlier this week, as reported, two people were killed in a Buddhist Temple fire on Wednesday, Feb. 12, in Fordham Heights. FDNY officials said a parked vehicle blocked access to a fire hydrant, hindering their response.

 

Late last month, there were no injuries reported following a residential fire at 3065 Grand Concourse between East 203rd Street and East 204th Street in Bedford Park on Wednesday night, Jan. 29, and one pet was the only casualty following a separate residential fire at 2587 Bainbridge Avenue in Fordham Manor on Friday, Jan. 31.

There were also no reported injuries following a track fire at Woodlawn Subway Station on the Norwood/Woodlawn border on Jan. 29.

 

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.”