Police have confirmed that a one-year-old boy has died during a major residential fire that broke out in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx on Monday afternoon, May 11. They also said a 6-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl (twins) remain in critical condition at St. Barnabas Hospital. Several others were reported injured during the blaze, fire officials said.

 

An FDNY spokesperson told Norwood News the department received a call at 3.39 p.m. for a report of a fire on the second floor of the residential building located at 2609 Bainbridge Avenue between East 193rd Street and East 194th Street.

The spokesperson said 21 units, comprising 79 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and that five civilian patients, three with critical injuries and one with serious injuries, were transported to area hospitals. He said one with minor injuries refused medical attention.

 

The spokesperson added that three firefighters with minor injuries were also transported to area hospitals, adding that the condition and descriptions of the injured were unknown. He said the fire marshals had been notified and the cause is under investigation. He said the fire was brought under control at 4:40 p.m.

During a subsequent press conference, an FDNY Special Op Assistant chief (name TBC) said, “Shortly after 3.30, we received [inaudible] alarms reporting fire in the multiple dwelling behind us. Units arrived on the scene, Engine 48, Ladder 56 to heavy fire venting out of a second-floor apartment up the interior stairs. Typical fire department operations, Engine 48 aggressively stretched in an interior line to make an attack on the fire, Ladder 56 up to the fire apartment for an interior search. Their search turned up three children that were removed [by] the fire department in critical condition.”

 

He added, “The fire rapidly extended up the stairs through the bulkhead, the staircase on the top of the building, forcing people to the windows and other civilians to look for ways out. We set up for a roof rescue. From the roof, a member of Ladder 56 tied up, went over to try to rescue someone from a window. The aggressive interior attack was able to knock the fire down enough so the interior units were able to get into that top loft fire apartment and get that other victim out.”

SMOKE IS SEEN from the rear of 2609 Bainbridge Avenue in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx on May 11, 2026, after a fire broke out. V1 Video courtesy of Jacqueline Cruz

The chief continued, “I believe we had eight total injuries at this fire, three [FDNY] members, non-critical and three red tag serious critically injured children. We’re still waiting on status updates on that and two other civilians. One refused medical aid and one is being treated at a local hospital. We had 20 units, 85 fighters on the scene at this all hands fire and we have fire marshals on the scene right now doing an investigation as to cause and origin.”

 

EMS Deputy Chief Stacey Grguric later said, “EMS transported three critical pediatric patients to local hospitals. We had two non-critical adults also transported to local hospitals, and we also had three firefighters with minor injuries transported to local hospitals as well.”

 

SMOKE IS SEEN from the rear of 2609 Bainbridge Avenue in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx on May 11, 2026, after a fire broke out. V2 Video courtesy of Jacqueline Cruz

Asked if there were any obstacles inside that caused firefighters additional problems, the special ops chief said, “Just the volume of fire that met them at the front door. Like I said, once the Engine got up their with the line, they were able to make an aggressive advance and they were able to knock the fire down which gave the members an opportunity to get to the victims.”

 

In reference to the apartment door that was possibly left open amid the fire, Norwood News later asked the FDNY if it was the door to the apartment where the three children transported to local hospitals were located. A spokesperson said, “Fire Marshalls are investigating the fire and the door being open may be corroborated with their report.”

 

Asked about the ages of the children transported out, the special ops chief said there was one 1-year-old and two 6-year-olds. “I believe the six-year-old were twins,” he said.

Asked about the status of the building in terms of damage, the special ops chief said there was extensive damage to the hallway all the way to the open hallway windows and to the front portion of the fire apartment, but most of the rest of the building was largely intact. “I don’t think we’re going to have to worry about a wholescale relocations here today,” he said.

 

The fire chief concluded saying, “We’ve had several of these fires lately where the occupants of the fire apartment have fled the building and left the apartment door open. That appears to be the case here again because of the heavy amount of fire that we found in the hallway on arrival. If there’s one message that I can deliver across the spectrum to everyone here and out there watching, it is close the door.”

 

Aftermath of fire at 2609 Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, May 11, 2026. V3 Video by Síle Moloney

He added, “It’s tough to do. It’s tough to wrap your mind around having to do that but the minute you close that door, you give everyone else in the building an opportunity to flee and you give yourself more time to flee by not allowing the fire to chase behind you, so it’s just a very, very important piece of information that I’d like to have out there. Please close the door.”

 

Norwood News spoke to several residents and bystanders at the scene, who were clearly shocked and saddened by the fire and news of the injured. More to follow. An earlier video of the fire can be watched here courtesy of djsammynyc.

 

We have reached out to NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) to ask if any pets are trapped inside the building and will share any updates we receive. Quite an amount of debris was seen scattered in front of the building, including a lot of glass.

Aftermath of fire at 2609 Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, May 11, 2026. V4 Video by Síle Moloney

Norwood News was previously advised by the FDNY Foundation that if residents are not home when a fire breaks out and if they have pets, owners can place a notice somewhere inside the apartment near the apartment door in large lettering that indicates if there are pets in the apartment, how many, and in which room they are typically located. They said every second counts and if they can, the firefighters may do their best to rescue them, though they cannot guarantee it, of course.

 

According to Maryland SPCA officials, any pets who have endured a fire should be taken to the vet as soon as possible. Some effects of house fires can take several hours to become lethal, so immediate veterinary care may prevent such effects from occurring, they said. “Your veterinarian will assess your pet’s heart, lungs, eyes, and skin,” they added.

Read our recent coverage of the recent fatal Belmont fire here, here, here and here.

 

Click here to read FDNY’s fire safety tips. “During a fire, always close the door behind you!” fire officials say. “It helps contain smoke and flames, giving you precious time to escape.”