The first anniversary of the Twin Parks fire tragedy which ripped through the towering housing development in Fordham Heights on Jan. 9 2022, was marked by a somber ceremony on Monday, Jan. 9. As reported extensively at the time, the tragic event claimed the lives of 17 Bronxites, including 8 children, mostly of Gambian descent. The cause of the fire was found to be a combination of a “malfunctioning space heater” and reportedly malfunctioning self-closing fire doors.

 

With legal proceedings against the Twin Parks building owners still pending, Mayor Eric Adams and other Bronx elected officials attended the private event, closed to the press at the high-rise, Bronx housing complex on Monday. The mayor also ordered all flags on all city buildings, as well as stationary flagstaffs throughout the five boroughs, to be lowered to half-staff as a mark of respect in memory of the 17 lives lost.

 

“One year ago, a devastating fire took the lives of 17 people in the Bronx at the Twin Parks apartment complex,” said Adams. “On that day, our city lost 17 of our neighbors and friends; they were our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers, our children and spouses.” The mayor added that since that day what he described as critical legislation has been passed to educate and protect New Yorkers from fires and to help prevent another tragedy. “Today, we honor and remember the lives lost,” he said.

 

For her part, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson said, in part, “While we continue to mourn those we lost on that tragic day, we must also never forget our shared responsibility to ensure our residents are safe from catastrophic fires of this magnitude.” She added, “I want to thank the first responders, city agencies, community organizations, and everyone else who stepped up to support our neighbors, as well as my colleagues in government, for their partnership in passing meaningful legislation to address the root causes of these residential fires.”

 

Gibson concluded, saying Jan. 9 would always be a time of mourning and remembrance for The Bronx. “We ask that Bronxites continue to keep the loved ones of those we lost in your heart and prayers during this time,” she said.

 

As previously reported, a mural honoring the victims of the tragedy was unveiled last May in the Charlotte Gardens neighborhood.

 

Hopes were high that fire safety would take on a deeper meaning in The Bronx since the tragedy, and though a number of successful educational events, including some geared towards kids, were held since then, the borough also saw its fair share of fires, including fatal fires, in the intervening months.

Elected officials, for the most part, have played their part in raising awareness of fire safety. In December 2022, as reported, State Sen. Luis Sepúlveda (S.D. 32) joined forces with Greater New York Red Cross to physically install free smoke alarms in the homes of residents in his district, which covers parts of the central and South Bronx.

 

Meanwhile, fire officials highlighted that space heaters need space. “Be sure to keep your space heater at least 3 feet away from combustibles,” they said. “Always plug the heater directly into the wall and turn it off if you leave the room or go to bed,” they added.

 

Adams, District 15 City Council Member Oswald Feliz, District 14 City Council Member Pierina Sanchez, and Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) were among those instrumental in passing various mayoral, City and federal fire safety and prevention laws in the wake of the Twin Parks tragedy, as previously reported. Both Torres and Feliz represent the residents of the Twin Parks housing complex.

District 12 City Councilman Kevin Riley also used the anniversary to remind his constituents of the importance of fire safety, tweeting on Jan. 9, “As we remember the lives lost a year ago in the deadly Twin Parks fire, we want to make sure those we lost are not forgotten. Today, we raise awareness to the community on fire safety by properly installing smoke alarms.”

 

Fire officials had warned residents to take fire safety precautions extra seriously in December in light of the increased use of holiday lights and candles, and amid freezing weather conditions, the increased use of space heaters by New Yorkers. They also advised residents never to use an oven/stove to heat a home.

 

Meanwhile, Sepúlveda has also introduced a bill to regulate the sale of e-bikes run on lithium-ion batteries, which FDNY officials found were the cause of some City fires in recent years, including, as reported, one early morning “all hands” fire that broke out at 2230 Grand Concourse in Fordham Heights the same day as the Twin Parks blaze. In late 2022, another fire, also caused by an e-bike, required a very complicated and dramatic rescue by firefighters from a midtown, Manhattan high-rise building.

 

In the context of the bill’s announcement, Sepúlveda said some of the tools that help him the most to legislate on behalf of his constituents are community meetings and police precinct meetings where he said he gets feedback from constituents on their priorities.

 

“In these meetings, I am able to listen and get a first-hand sense of the needs of our people,” Sepúlveda said. “It has been in these meetings where I have repeatedly heard the challenge that the current situation with the so-called “scooters and e-bikes” represents for the authorities and for the communities.”

 

He continued, “While it is true that these [e-bikes] are an important transportation resource, it is also true that the police are having great problems in preventing crimes that are committed using these vehicles as a means of escape. Precinct commanders and patrol officers have explained to me how criminals are taking advantage of the lack of regulation and the public danger posed by pursuing people who commit crimes with these vehicles.”

 

Norwood News previously reported on the seizure of hundreds of illegal e-bikes across The Bronx during a press conference held at the 52nd Precinct on Aug. 2, 2022. Ahead of that event, several scooter riders and one scooter salesman we spoke to all incorrectly believed scooters under 50 CCs (cubic capacity) did not have to be registered with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

 

However, a flyer provided by the NYPD showed that a driver’s license is required to drive all motorized scooters and mopeds, even though bike shops were, at least then, not required to ask for a driver’s license before purchase.

 

The senator said listening to the concerns of the community, he submitted bill S9614 which seeks to establish clear rules for the use of e-bikes. “The bill mandates a safe use manual, establishment of a license and insurance, and the obligation of in-person or online sellers to ensure that people comply with these requirements in order to sell one of these items,” Sepúlveda said.

 

According to the FDNY, lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in cell phones, laptops, tablets, electric cars, and scooters. Officials said such batteries store a large amount of energy and can pose a threat if not treated properly. “Like any product, a small number of these batteries are defective,” fire department officials said. “They can overheat, catch fire, or explode.”

 

When it comes to disposing of lithium-ion batteries, officials said putting them in the trash or recycling at home is illegal. They encouraged residents to, instead, recycle batteries by taking them to a battery recycling location. Residents can also visit nyc.gov/batteries for disposal instructions.

 

The FDNY also shared the following fire safety tips for those using devices powered by lithium-ion batteries:

 

• Purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage.
• Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or a couch.
• Always use the manufacturer’s cord and power adapter made specifically for the device
• Keep batteries/devices at room temperature. Do not place in direct sunlight.
• Store batteries away from anything flammable.
• If a battery overheats or you notice an odor, change in shape/color, leaking, or odd noises from a device discontinue use immediately. If safe to do so, move the device away from anything that can catch fire and call 911.
• Individually bag batteries or tape the ends before disposal.

 

Meanwhile, Sepúlveda said his e-bike bill aims to regulate and protect those who were referred to as legitimate users of e-bikes who take advantage of the benefits of this transport.

 

“It will also help the police to identify and apprehend those who take advantage of the lack of regulations to commit crimes with impunity and steal our tranquility,” he said. “I look forward to the beginning of the legislative session to discuss this project with all sectors and work together on practical solutions.”

 

As also reported, a mural was unveiled on April 16, 2022, in the Charlotte Gardens section of The Bronx in honor of the Twin Parks victims.

 

To receive free fire detectors and even have them installed in your home, contact the Red Cross, by calling (877) 733 2767. For more tips, go to FDNYSmart.org.

 

*David Greene contributed to this story.