This is a developing story.

 

Four separate fires were reported in the Morris Heights and Norwood sections of The Bronx over the weekend.

 

Firefighters responded to a fire at 34 W. Burnside Avenue in Morris Heights on Sunday. While we await the official FDNY report on the incident, eleven firefighters were reportedly injured and several stores reportedly destroyed.

FDNY members are operating on scene of a 4-alarm fire at 34 West Burnside Avenue in the Bronx. pic.twitter.com/OZSipHN7LA

— FDNY (@FDNY) June 27, 2021

The fire is believed to have started in an electronics store and spread to a furniture store. A local supermarket was reportedly saved.

 

Tweets from the FDNY at 3.06 p.m. on Sunday indicated there was a two-alarm call in effect for a residential and commercial building fire at the location, but that had later changed to a four-alarm call, according to another FDNY tweet sent at 4.56 p.m.

Bronx 2-Alarm Box 3120, 34 W BURNSIDE AVE, Other Commercial Building Fire

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) June 27, 2021

 

Norwood News photographed several firefighters and trucks at the scene, working to address the issue.

 

At 5.40 p.m., FDNY confirmed in a subsequent tweet that the fire had been placed under control, and officials included the term “taxpayer” in the same tweet in reference to the type of building involved.

Bronx 4-Alarm Box 3120, 34 W BURNSIDE AVE, Other Commercial Building Fire, TAXPAYER, Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) June 27, 2021

According to www.fireengineering.com, “taxpayer” buildings are criticized for being poorly or cheaply built, but the buildings’ developers are allowed stay in business while they “await more favorable conditions.” A fire in a so-called “taxpayer” is a special hazard in firefighting.

 

The poor quality construction often burns readily, and the architecture tends to encourage backdrafts. A backdraft is a rapid or explosive burning of superheated gasses in a fire situation, caused when oxygen rapidly enters an oxygen-depleted environment e.g. when a window or door to an enclosed space is opened or broken.

Bronx All Hands Box 3565, 3279 PERRY AVE, Private Dwelling Fire

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) June 27, 2021

Backdrafts present a serious threat to firefighters. Many taxpayer buildings have been renovated several times over and have concealed or undocumented voids. More modern taxpayers were built with fire-resistant materials and are less of a hazard.

 

Norwood News has since reported more fully on this Morris Heights fire as part of a separate story.

 

In a separate incident, also on Sunday, the FDNY tweeted a call for all hands to respond to a fire in a private dwelling at 3279 Perry Avenue in Norwood at 2.27 p.m. That fire was later brought under control, as confirmed in a tweet by FDNY at 3.45 p.m.

Bronx All Hands Box 3587, 3540 DECATUR AVE, Multiple Dwelling 'A' Fire

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) June 25, 2021

 

 

According to photographer, Chris Perkins, the fire was seen at a two-story private home.

It was reported by BNN that one person (condition unknown) was removed from the building at 4.01 a.m., and that the origin of the fire had been put out. However, FDNY Division 7 also reported that the fire had extended into the cockloft, meaning the attic.

 

According to BNN FDNY Alerts, the 2^nd fire alarm was transmitted at 4.24 a.m. Officials then reported that all visible fire had been put out at 4.49 a.m., and they also confirmed that two people had been removed with minor injuries at 5.03 a.m.

Division 7 officials later confirmed the fire had been definitively placed under control at 5.27 a.m.

 

Norwood News spoke to Lisa Fong, daughter of the homeowners at 3279 Perry Avenue, who confirmed the impacted building was her parents’ home.

Asked about the two fires at the location, Fong said, “The second fire was Monday morning. I think it was around 3 or 4.” She added, “I wasn’t home. I believe they said it was 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning.”

Asked about the first fire at the location on the Sunday afternoon, and if she knew how it started, she said, “Sunday afternoon, yeah, I’m not sure. They’re still investigating.”

We asked about the damage to the home.  “It’s a total loss, meaning it’s not livable,” Fong said. “The water damage is really bad, yeah.”

Asked about the two people who were reported as being injured, Fong confirmed they were her parents. “They’re fine, they only had smoke inhalation. They’re fine,” she said.  “They’re somewhere safe now.”

Asked if they were in hospital, she replied, “No, no, definitely not.”

Bronx All Hands Box 3587, 3540 DECATUR AVE, Multiple Dwelling 'A' Fire, APT4C, Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) June 25, 2021

 

Meanwhile, on Friday, June 25, another separate fire had been reported by FDNY, also in Norwood, at 3540 Decatur Avenue at 8.10 a.m. The fire was later reported as being under control according to a subsequent tweet by FDNY at 8.31 a.m.

 

In recent days, Norwood News has reported on a number of arson incidents and a suspected arson incident in the borough.

Bronx All Hands Box 3565, 3279 PERRY AVE, Private Dwelling Fire, , Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) June 27, 2021

 

We have reached out to the FDNY for further information about these latest fires in Morris Heights and Norwood, and will provide more updates on this story, as they become available.

 

Bronx 2-Alarm Box 3565, 3279 PERRY AVE, Private Dwelling Fire, 2 FLR

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) June 28, 2021

 

Bronx 2-Alarm Box 3565, 3279 PERRY AVE, Private Dwelling Fire, 2 FLR, Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) June 28, 2021