Two-Alarm Fire Ravages UWS Townhouse

Doormen noticed a townhouse on West 73rd Street was on fire and ran across the street to alert the residents. WCBS 2 reports that one resident is grateful, noting how the room she was just in exploded soon after. Eight firefighters and one civilian had minor injuries and it's unclear what caused the blaze. Another resident, whose belongings were destroyed and cat was killed, suspects it's the wiring, saying the building's landlord/owner "refused to fix it and now I'm homeless." [Photograph by Pamela Yoder]

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By Jen Chung in News on July 14, 2008 9:58 AM

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konakazi

That's really sad. :(

I grew up a block away. I was walking by this building last week and was saying to my mom how beautiful the top of it was. Covered in interesting little sculpted copper details, faces, little gargoyles...

Then a week later it's destroyed along with the homes they adorned.

If this was really caused by a wiring problem, it's even more tragic that it could have been easily prevented.