Fire officials say one person was seriously injured after a fire broke out inside a 5th-floor apartment at 125 West 195th Street in Kingsbridge Heights.

 

According to the FDNY, the fire broke out at 2:55 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, inside a 7-story apartment building. The 2-alarm fire drew 106 fire personnel from 25 units to the location to bring the blaze under control.

 

Providing few details on the incident, an unnamed FDNY official told Norwood News, “One civilian [was] transported in critical condition at Jacobi Hospital.” The official added that the fire was brought under control at 4:07 p.m. and no other injuries were reported.

 

While at the scene, Norwood News observed members of three different tower ladders, Ladder 46, Ladder 37 and Hook and Ladder 56. One female resident of the building was observed hunched-over her windowsill, apparently trying to get some fresh air while watching the firefighters below as she, apparently, sheltered in place.

 

Meanwhile, one male, 4th-floor resident who declined to be identified, said he had his headphones in when his dad told him, “Get dressed.”

 

As they fled their apartment, the father and son said they assisted several elderly residents out. The young man recalled, “There were some old people that we were helping down the stairs. Yeah, I was giving them a bit of help.”

 

As they all made it down to where the firefighters were on a lower floor, the same young resident recalled, “Then the smoke was coming down and it was bothering us a little bit, so I told them that we need to walk outside.”

 

Another resident, who did not wish to be identified either, who lived in a nearby building on Claflin Street asked Norwood News, “Is it a coincidence there are so many fires going on? I’m on Citizens’ App and I see it all day: fire, shooting, fire, shooting.”

 

Norwood News reached out to Jacobi Hospital for information on any victims. A Jacobi press representative replied, saying, “One patient in critical condition.”

 

Asked if he could provide the age, gender, and condition of the victim, the representative replied, “We’re not allowed to give out any of that information.”

The fire indeed comes on the heels of several recent fires in The Bronx including one on Tuesday, May 10, at 2194 Valentine Avenue that claimed the life of one Fordham Heights resident. The fire spread to several adjacent homes and those residents were forced to relocate.

 

Last year, Norwood News reported on three arson Incidents in the vicinity of University Heights and Kingsbridge Heights, and possibility a fourth, though we never got confirmation from the FDNY. One was not far from this latest reported incident [at 125 West 195th Street]. It was reported to police that on Friday June, 11, 2021, between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., inside a residential building in the vicinity of University Avenue and West 195th Street, an individual set fire to the door of an apartment.

 

Norwood News will continue to monitor this developing story.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.