The five-alarm fire that engulfed seven buildings and injured nine residents in the Bronx earlier this week was caused by a "fireworks fight," according to the FDNY. On Saturday, the Fire Marshal arrested and charged three men in connection with the blaze, which took three hours and nearly 200 firefighters to put down, the FDNY said.
After allegedly admitting to the "fireworks fight," Bronx residents Nabindranauth Nandalall and Shivnarine Lauchman, both 23, now face charges of fourth-degree arson, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and illegal possession of fireworks. A third man, Alejandro Soler, 27, has been charged with illegal possession of fireworks.
"This fire is a reminder that fireworks are illegal in New York City—and as witnessed in this fire can be dangerous to both Firefighters and civilians alike," Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in a statement.
The fire began Thursday afternoon at 1136 Olmstead Avenue, quickly spreading through the basement to six other buildings, officials said. Of the nine patients reported, one is a civilian with nonlife-threatening injuries, seven are firefighters with nonlife-threatening injuries, and one is a firefighter in serious but stable condition, according to the FDNY. He was treated at Jacobi Medical Center and has since been released.
"These buildings can collapse very quickly," Chief of Department James E. Leonard told DNAinfo at the scene, adding that two of the damaged homes may need to be demolished.
It remains unclear how many people were displaced in the fire.
