Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) addressed the Senate floor on Monday, Jan. 10, regarding the devastating fire that broke out at the Twin Parks North West housing complex, located at 333 E 181st Street in the Fordham Heights section of The Bronx on Sunday, Jan. 9.

 

As reported, seventeen people lost their lives in the tragedy, including eight children, despite the reported valiant efforts by 200 firefighters at the scene. According to the NYPD, at approximately 10.55 a.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding the incident. Upon arrival, officers encountered FDNY personnel attempting to suppress a large fire on the third floor of the 19-story building where, police said, smoke had spread throughout.

 

Once the fire was brought under control, multiple injuries and fatalities were reported and observed. FDNY officials had confirmed on Sunday that the fire was caused by an electric space heater, but Mayor Eric Adams said Monday the City was also investigating whether automated self-closing doors which are supposed to contain the spread, were properly functioning. FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro later confirmed they were not. 

 

“Today, my thoughts, my prayers, and our condolences are with everyone whose lives were ripped apart because of the awful fire in the apartments that ignited yesterday, at the Twin Parks North West tower in the Bronx,” Schumer said. “Seventeen people lost their lives in yesterday’s fire, including eight innocent children.”

He said dozens of others were injured, many of them, critically, and asked that people pray for their recovery, including many who were in the ICU.

 

Schumer said it was the deadliest fire in New York City in the last 30 years, describing it as an unspeakable tragedy, made a thousand times worse because it happened within the confines of people’s own homes, places he said that should be safe and secure, and which should be shielded from what he described as moments of terror.

How to help those affected by yesterday’s fire:
• Donate money to @NYCMayorsFund at https://t.co/0Fmkq0RCV5.
• Please do not bring physical donations to the site of the fire or local fire/EMS stations and schools without confirming they’re taking donations. pic.twitter.com/eDIlAqERSW

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) January 10, 2022

 

“I grieve for all the families, friends, and neighbors whose lives were suddenly cut short in the fire. Many were from immigrant families, people who came to our City to start climbing up the ladders of prosperity, and a decent life for themselves and their children in this beautiful country, and now they’re lost,” he said. 

 

Schumer commended those who he called the brave firefighters who stepped up to beat back the fire, save lives, and keep the surrounding community safe. “They did not think about their own safety. They just answered the call and did their jobs – that’s what firefighters do. We respect them, we love them,” he said. “I am profoundly grateful for them and for all the workers who are rebuilding from the damage, as well as the health workers tending to the injured.”

 

The majority leader said that on Sunday night, as reported, he had joined Gov. Kathy Hochul, the mayor and other members of the City and local government as part of what he called a broad group, saying New York always pulled together in times of tragedy. “We had people from all parts of the City, and all different backgrounds coming together to support those families impacted by the fire,” he said. “At the federal level, we will do whatever we can—housing assistance, disaster assistance, and help for all immigrant families.”

 

Schumer said many of those affected by the fire came from Gambia and other West African countries on the Diversity Visa lottery program, legislation he said he had been proud to author. “I say to these immigrant families: do not hesitate to reach out to local and federal authorities—you will find nothing but a helping hand.”

 

He added, “When tragedy strikes our City, New Yorkers come together. We embrace one another, and we help however we can. And we always find ways to come back stronger than before. That has been true throughout our City’s history and it shall remain true as we get through this latest, awful tragedy.” Schumer’s remarks can be viewed in full here.

 

A review of the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) complaints records for the building in question, revealed there were nine complaints recorded, with two still active as of Jan. 10. Of the two that were active, one related to a “24 HOUR FOLLOW UP COMPLIANCE INSPECTION FOR VAC X 04/202224 HOUR FOLLOW UP COMPLIANCE INSPECTION” and one related to an elevator audit. Norwood News reached out to DOB for clarification on what exactly the former complaint related to and were informed that after Sunday’s fire, DOB issued a Partial Vacate Order for the entire 3rd floor (14 apartments in total).

 

“It is standard protocol at DOB that following the issuance of a Vacate Order, our inspectors will return to the location within 24 hours to confirm that the Vacate Order is being complied with. This follow up inspection is noted in BIS for record keeping purposes,” a DOB official said. “In this case, our investigators have been on scene all day, and we can confirm that the order was being complied with.” 

 

Regarding the elevator complaint, the DOB official told Norwood News, “DOB performed an inspection of the two elevators inside of the building following the fire. We found that they were not damaged by the fire, and at the time of inspection they were in safe operable condition.”

The most important thing New Yorkers should know about fire safety is ALWAYS close the door behind you. It will slow the spread of fire and give people more time to safely evacuate.

Teach your children, remind your friends and family: close the door. pic.twitter.com/xVtCU4vNmB

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 10, 2022

Meanwhile, a review of the 311 complaints logged from Jan. 1, 2021 to Jan. 9, 2022, for the building at 333 E 181st Street, where the fire broke out, generated no complaint records for the address in question during that specific timeframe, though there were some heating/hot water and other complaints logged for nearby buildings within a 500 feet radius.

 

DOB records show, however, that the same building has other addresses listed i.e. 2180 Folin Street and others on Webster Avenue, though no street number was provided for the Webster Avenue address. The review of 311 complaints within a 500 feet radius of 333 E 181st Street did generate some other complaints for 2148 Webster Avenue and 2233 Webster Avenue, which related to lack of heating and water, and to roach and mice infestation, with some of the complaints filed in December 2021. The addresses listed on DOB’s website correspond to the same Building Identification Number (BIN # 2013306), and Borough Block Lot Number (BBL #: 3143/36). A DOB official told Norwood News, prior to the fire, it had received six 311 complaints for the building, and all are available to view on BIS here.

The building at 333 E 181st Street is owned by Bronx Phase III Housing Company, Inc., according to NYC Department of Finance records. The Daily Mail UK also reported on Monday that this nonprofit corporation is comprised of three property developers, one of which is The Camber Group.

 

On Dec. 10, 2021, NYCHA announced the selection of Camber Property Group as part of a development team set to deliver what it called comprehensive building and apartment upgrades to more than 2,000 apartments at Edenwald Houses in the Bronx, as part of a new “PACT” deal, worth approximately $445 million in repair work.

 

As previously reported, according to NYCHA, under the PACT [Permanent Affordability Commitment Together] program, private and non-profit development partners are contracted by the government, based on resident input, to manage certain NYCHA developments. Under the program, once a property “converts” to “Project-Based Section 8 housing,” NYCHA leases the land and buildings to the development partners, which conduct repairs, serve as property managers, and provide “enhanced social services and community programs to tenants.” Edenwald Houses is one of the largest NYCHA developments in New York City.

 

Meanwhile, news of the fire tragedy at 333 181st Street made it across the world with Pope Francis sending a message of condolence and support to the victims via Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, who visited the scene of the fire on Monday to offer his assistance. The building is home to a large Muslim community.

 

“It doesn’t get worse than what we witnessed in New York yesterday at that tragic fire in the Bronx. I’m visiting the scene with the fire companies that responded so that I might see how the Church can assist. Thank God for the New York City Fire Department (FDNY),” he said.

 

On Tuesday, Jan. 11, Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) was joined by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and Council Members Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) and Pierina Sanchez (C.D. 14) to announce new financial resources which they said are to be made immediately available to the victims of the fire, including assistance for flights to bury victims in their home countries, as needed. They also provided the latest updates on the ongoing recovery efforts.

On Monday, the mayor had urged New Yorkers to “close their doors” in the event of a fire in order to curtail the spread. “The most important thing New Yorkers should know about fire safety is ALWAYS close the door behind you,” he said. “It will slow the spread of fire and give people more time to safely evacuate. Teach your children, remind your friends and family: close the door.”

 

Adams also visited the Webster Avenue firehouse in the Bronx, home to one of the first firefighter crews to respond to Sunday’s blaze.

The mayor also thanked, once again, Nigro and the more than 200 FDNY firefighters, EMS workers, and all the first responders who he said had responded within minutes to save lives on Sunday, following the fire. Before treating the many fire victims of the Fordham Heights blaze, most City hospitals and ICU units were already coping with the recent rise in hospitalizations of those with severe COVID-19. As of Jan. 10, the numbers of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths were all on the rise, according to City records.

 

Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, the FDNY unions held a public zoom call in response to the deadly fire, led by Andrew Ansboro, president, Uniformed Firefighters Association and Lt. James McCarthy, president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association of America.

 

Recalling Sunday’s tragedy, Ansboro said, “I was called to the scene when I was alerted to the 5th alarm and the large number of people requiring medical attention. When I got on the scene, it was absolutely horrific. I talked to many veteran firefighters who said it was the worst fire they’d ever been in, in their lives. They were doing CPR on people outside, getting them in ambulances, it was absolutely horrific.”

 

He added, “The members that operated yesterday did so with the utmost heroism in traditions of the FDNY. Unfortunately, not all fires have a positive outcome.”

 

Meanwhile, McCarthy said, “Two hundred firefighters responded to this incident and they really operated above and beyond the call of duty. Fire on the second floor that extended to the third floor and the smoke went out throughout the building into the stairwell and [the smoke overcame] a lot of the residents, and they could not get out of the building.”

This is a painful moment but also a purposeful one. The tragedy in the Bronx is a reminder that we are one New York and we will always come together for our neighbors.

Visit https://t.co/osJkcX5T5m for more. pic.twitter.com/3g0GaZjHGn

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 11, 2022

 

He continued, “Many went to the roof and many tried to make their way out and our firefighters attacked the fire from the interior and the exterior ladders and aerial in trying to rescue as many people as possible. Hundreds of residents were taken out of the building and it’s a shame that many of the residents succumbed to the toxic smoke. Our members followed their training and saved as many lives as they could in this incident that’s such a tragedy.”

 

McCarthy said as temperatures were getting colder in the evening, people were finding different ways to heat their apartments and stay warm, and space heaters were often a problem due to what he said were open electrical connections or disrepair, causing fires. “One of the biggest things that the fire department puts out in their public service announcements is to close the door to the apartment and that was one of the problems here – that the residents exited the apartment, left the door open, and the fire extended out into the public hallway, and the stairwell, exposing everybody else in the building,” he said.

 

 

On Tuesday, the Commission on the Public’s Health System (CPHS) said it stood with the community in support of the Bronx families affected by the fire. “We ask that you support the survivors of yesterday’s tragic fire by donating to the Gambian Youth Organization’s Relief for Families Affected by Bronx Fire GoFundMe or the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City to the Fordham Heights families affected by this horrific tragedy,” a spokesperson said.

 

“The main languages spoken by those affected are Spanish, French, Soninke, Wolof, Pulaar, Mandinga. For dialects, Soninke is #1 and Wolof is #2,” the person added. The City set up a service center at Monroe College, Ustin Hall, 2375 Jerome Ave, Bronx NY 10468 to assist those affected by the fire.

 

Julie Bolcer, executive director of public affairs and senior advisor at the NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) told Norwood News on Tuesday, Jan. 11, “The cause of death [of all 17 victims] is smoke inhalation [and] the manner of death is accident.”

 

A vigil is being held on Tuesday evening, organized by the Bronx borough president, in the Bronx in honor of the victims. The NYPD released their names, on Tuesday, providing a slight revision of some on Wednesday morning:

 

Sera Janneh, a 27-year-old woman

Seydou Toure, a 12-year-old boy

Haouwa Mahamadou, a  5-year-old girl

Haji Dukary, a 49-year-old man

Haja Dukureh, a 37-year-old woman

Mustapha Dukureh, a 12-year-old boy

Mariam Dukureh, an 11-year-old girl

Fatoumata Dukureh, a 5-year-old girl

Fatoumata Drammeh, a 50-year-old woman

Foutmala Drammeh, a 21-year-old young woman

Muhammed Drammeh, a 12-year-old man

Nyumaaisha Drammeh, a 19-year-old young woman

Omar Jambang, a 6-year-old boy

Fatoumata Tunkara, a 43-year-old woman

Jabbie, Isatou, a 31-year-old woman

Jawara, Hagi, a 47-year-old man

Konteh, Ousmane, a 2-year-old boy