March 8, 2007
Bronx Tragedy: Fire Kills 8 Children and 1 Adult
Last night, a horrific fire raged through a four-story home in the Highbridge section of the Bronx and claimed the lives of nine people. Children were thrown out of the windows and one woman jumped to escape the three-alarm fire. Fire officials say the fire started in the basement and fire floor, quickly spreading throughout the building. A witness told the NY Times, "It was an inferno. Smoke everywhere."
Neighbors caught children that were thrown from the building; one man, King Heath, told the Post, "The lady held one kid out the window. I caught one and the other guy caught the other one. She tossed him from the second floor. She jumped afterwards." The children's mother who jumped hit the sidewalk hard and broke her leg. She was taken to the hospital, where she later died.
A witness told the Daily News that "his relatives, immigrants from Mali, were trapped in the fire"; the witness also said his cousin owned the house and that one big family lived there. The neighborhood is home to many African immigrants, and it was unclear how many people or families lived in the building. The Times has an MP3 from reporter Jennifer 8. Lee on the scene.
Update: The Mayor had a press conference today, and here are some notable facts: The fire may have started from a space heater or power strip. There were two smoke detectors, but no batteries (with daylight savings time around the corner, change the batteries). The fire started in the basement, in a room which had the door open. The fire spread through the stairwell, trapping people upstairs.
Nine people died, and at least 22 people were living there. Mayor Bloomberg was asked if having so many people living in one space contributed to the fire, and he said, "It probably did." He also called it the worst loss of life from a fire (not counting September 11) since the 1990 Happyland social club fire, which was also in the Bronx.
Of the eight children who died, 7 were boys and 1 was a girl; two were twin infants, they were all under the age of 8. And 17-19 people were injured. The residents attempted to put the fire out on their own. The FDNY responded in just over 3 minutes of the emergency call, which is apparently pretty good. When asked about the fire, Bloomberg said it was, "one small building, but one very large tragedy for our city."
Photograph of the Bronx home ravaged by a 3-alarm fire by Jason DeCrow/AP
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soo horrible. i would like to think this was preventable.
Dammit, I knew it... damn space heaters. It's an awful combination... bitter cold, substandard housing, no heat, heaters... and a fireman told me once that fires are twice as hard to fight in the bitter cold.
Say a prayer.
This is really naive-but arent buildings/landlords legally supposed to provide heating? Why did they even have to use space heaters in the first place?
And why is it that whenever a fire like this happens anywhere in the country, it always kills so many children every time?
This is a horrible tragedy, my condolences to the victims.
Legally required does not mean that they actually do it. Also, if I remember correctly (please correct me if I'm wrong), the temperature they have to keep the building at isn't all that high.
There were several reports this morning that the FDNY found the heating system and hot water working in the building.
They are legally required but this sounds like a private family-owned home. Does anyone know if the city can enforce the same kind of housing rules it imposes on apartment buildings for private multi-unit dwellings?
yeah, they had working central heat. even after the fire.
Why does the media breakdown casuality statistics by age?? Is something more tragic when children are killed?
Is losing an 8 year old worse than an 8 year old losing his Daddy? Isn't everyone somebody's child, father, brother, daughter, sister, mother?
I never understood this.
As I thirty five year old, I fear dying in a bus accident with 8 children and being remembered by a headline reading, "Eight Children die in tragic accident" subheadline: "oh yes.. and some old guy that doesn't matter so much died too"
Well, I think you matter, Michael! hehe
I actually do think it's more tragic when a child dies - they haven't even really had a chance to live. Also, when a child dies under such horrific circumstances one's generally reminded of how vulnerable and powerless they really are.
Thanks Smitty.
That'll put a small smile on my face when my bus goes careening into a ravine.
I agree with Samantha T, but Michael you also have to remember that the news is a business. A headline about children will peak more interest and possibly sell more papers.
The most strange in this tragedy is that illegals are welcome in this country. They are allowed to stay ,make big families,and they are afraid to call 911 for help.Better die,than been sent back to father land. And this choice is made by parents. That's complete absurd. Very weak community and religious advisers work. With only faith is not possible to survive in capitalism. By the way ...Does Senate's immigration bill been shaded with media shows?
With a sorrow in my heart.
Martha