BY LLOYD MITCHELL
A number of residents narrowly
managed to escape a
raging four-alarm fi re inside
a Bronx apartment building
on Sunday night. Fire Department
sources said the blaze
broke out at about 8:16 p.m. on
March 28 inside 135 West 183rd
St. in University Heights.
The fi rst arriving FDNY
units observed heavy fi re
and smoke shooting out of a
top-fl oor apartment. The conditions
were made worse as
strong winds blew through the
area, complicating fi refi ghting
operations.
“Our units were here in four
minutes. We already had fi re
in one of the top apartments
that was driven by a heavy
wind condition,” said FDNY
Assistant Chief John Hodgens.
“Our units did an interior fi re
attack, and also we had to set
up exterior streams with our
tower ladders. We had to work
aggressively, and we were able
to knock most of the fi re down
relatively quickly.”
Five fi refi ghters and two
residents suffered minor injuries,
including smoke inhalation,
Fire Department
sources. Two fi refi ghters were
hospitalized for treatment of
serious injuries, according to
the FDNY.
Some 175 fi refi ghters wound
up being called to battle the
raging inferno as it spread
through numerous apartments
and the cockloft area, between
the roof and ceiling on the top
fl oor of the building.
BRONX TIMES R 6 EPORTER, APRIL 2-8, 2021
The American Red Cross
of Greater New York reported
providing relief to 25
people from nine households
who were temporarily displaced
by the fi re. The nonprofi
t group provided them
with temporary lodging,
supplies and fi nancial assistance.
Anyone affected by the
fi re who did not connect
with a Red Cross representative
can contact 877-REDCROSS
(press option 1).
Firefi ghters managed to
bring the blaze under control
at about 10:18 p.m. The
cause is now under investigation
by FDNY marshals.
A wind impacted fi re heavily damaged top fl oor apartments and left two
residents and three fi refi ghters hurt at 135 W. 185 Street on Sunday night.
Photos by Lloyd Mitchell
Firefi ghters risk their lives to save residents.
Residents displaced by massive fouralarm
fi re at Bronx apartment building
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