Video of Norwood fire courtesy of Citizen

 

FDNY called for All Hands to respond to three fires in The Bronx on Friday, July 30, according to various Twitter alerts.

 

One fire broke out at a private home at 3231 Rochambeau Avenue in the Norwood section of the Bronx on Friday afternoon and was brought under control at 3.58 p.m., according to a tweet from the FDNY. It is unknown, at this time, if there were any injuries or what caused the fire.

 

The incident was reported on the Citizen’s App at approximately 3.23 p.m. An FDNY alert on Twitter at 3.37 p.m. called for “All Hands” to respond to the incident, which was reported to be on the first floor of a residential location.

Bronx All Hands Box 3549, 3231 ROCHAMBEAU AVE, Private Dwelling Fire, 1 FLR, Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) July 30, 2021

Video uploaded by users of the Citizen’s App showed at least one FDNY truck at the scene and smoke billowing out of the building.

 

At around 3.43 p.m., Citizen App users commented, “Primary searches of the building are negative, and firefighters are conducting secondary searches. The visible portion of the fire has been knocked down.” This information has not been corroborated independently by FDNY.

 

Norwood News reached out to FDNY about the incident and the agency did not immediately respond. On Tuesday, Aug. 3, FDNY said they were still investigating the incident and confirmed that there had been no injuries.

 

Bronx All Hands Box 3549, 3231 ROCHAMBEAU AVE, Private Dwelling Fire, 1 FLR

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) July 30, 2021

At around 5 p.m., Citizen’s App users commented that firefighters had requested that ConEd shut off the gas supply to the entire building.

 

Norwood News reached out to both the FDNY and to Con Ed for more information on this point. On Saturday, July 31, Con Ed confirmed that they had been asked to shut down the gas supply to the building on Friday at around 4.05 p.m., though they added that “gas was not involved” in the fire incident itself. “As per FDNY request, we closed the valve and verified shutdown of the gas at this location.”

 

We asked if the gas supply is now restored and await their confirmation.

Bronx All Hands Box 2707, 1260 WEBSTER AVE, Multiple Dwelling 'A' Fire, 17-B, Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) July 30, 2021

According to other FDNY tweets, “All Hands” were also called at 11.30 a.m. to respond to an earlier reported fire at 1260 Webster Avenue in the Claremont Village section of the borough on Friday morning.

 

Video of fire on Webster Avenue courtesy of Citizen

 

FDNY later confirmed to Norwood News that the fire was reported at 11.18 a.m. on the 17th story of a 21-story, high-rise building, and that 20 units responded, comprising about 78 firefighters. An official confirmed the fire was placed under control at 12.02 in the afternoon. There were four injuries, including three civilians.

 

One civilian refused medical attention. Two were transported to an area hospital. The victims’ genders, ages and conditions are unknown. One fire fighter incurred minor injuries and was also transported to an area hospital. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Videos uploaded to the Citizen’s App in relation to a reported Webster Avenue fire on Friday showed FDNY trucks and firefighters at the reported location.

 

A third fire was reported in the early hours of Friday morning at 2256 Aqueduct Avenue in University Heights. FDNY confirmed on Twitter at 5.20 a.m. that the fire had been brought under control. Citizen App users had, again, uploaded accompanying videos of the fire showing FDNY trucks and firefighters at the scene.

 

Bronx All Hands Box 2707, 1260 WEBSTER AVE, Multiple Dwelling 'A' Fire

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) July 30, 2021

 

An FDNY official later confirmed to Norwood News that at 4.21 a.m. on Friday, FDNY units were assigned to 2256 Aqueduct Avenue in University Heights for reports of a fire. The official confirmed that firefighters were able to determine that the fire was located on the first floor of the 25 x 40 private dwelling.

 

The official said 12 units, comprising 60 firefighters were deployed during the operation. One patient was treated at the scene. The person’s gender, age and condition are unknown. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

 

Bronx All Hands Box 3192, 2256 AQUEDUCT AVE, Private Dwelling Fire, 1 FL, Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) July 30, 2021

A separate earlier FDNY alert for “All Hands” to respond to an undefined structural fire at West 183rd Street went out at 4.36 a.m. on Friday morning. No street number was provided.

 

A Citizen App user commented on a post in relation to a University Heights fire post dated Friday, July 30, that a fire reported at West 183rd Street and Aqueduct Avenue East in University Heights had initially been reported at West 183rd Street and Grand Avenue.

Bronx All Hands Box 3192, W 183 ST, Undefined Structural Fire

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) July 30, 2021

Regarding the FDNY tweet mentioning West 183^rd Street, the official confirmed to Norwood News, “No response to W 183^rd St for fire.”

 

We reached out to Con Ed to ask whether the gas had been turned off at the locations of these additional fires. A representative responded on July 31, saying, “We don’t have info on the other addresses.”

 

Video of fire in University Heights courtesy of Citizen

Over the course of the last month or so, as reported, across the borough, there have been a number of arson incidents, a suspected arson incident, four separate fires which took place over the course of the weekend ending Sunday, June 27, in Norwood and in Morris Heights, the latter destroying several businesses, a residential fire on July 8 at 131 West 197th Street in Kingsbridge Heights, as well as a recent fire at Tracey Towers in Jerome Park.

 

We asked FDNY to confirm if Friday’s fires were connected in any way, and if there was any evidence of them being arson-related. So far, they responded in relation to the Claremont Village incident only, saying that they could not confirm this point at this time.

 

We are following up with the FDNY in relation to the causes of the various fires.

 

When we checked back for an update on the Rochambeau Avenue fire investigation again on Aug. 3, the FDNY said they were still investigating. They confirmed there were no injuries reported.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story indicated that there were four fires but finally, FDNY reported three across the borough on Friday, July 30.