www.BXTimes.com BRONX WEEKLY July 21, 2019 2
Soundview NYCHA blaze displaces 45 families, injures 9
BY ROBERT WIRSING
Over 100 Soundview residents
were displaced by a recent fi re.
According to the FDNY, approximately
200 fi refi ghters and 50
FDNY units responded to a 4-alarm
fi re on Friday, July 12 at 6 a.m. inside
a NYCHA building at 1466 Watson
Avenue between Evergreen and
Colgate avenues.
A FDNY spokesman confi
rmed that the fi re began inside
the 3-story building’s cockloft, the
space between the ceiling on the top
fl oor and the roof, before spreading
to several other apartments on the
top fl oor.
Nine people, consisting of six
fi refi ghters and three civilians,
were injured in the blaze.
One civilian and one fi refi ghter
sustained serious injuries while the
other seven victims received minor
injuries. There were no fatalities.
Firefi ghters successfully gained
control over the fi re at 8:08 a.m.
The top fl oor apartments sustained
fi re and water damage while
the apartments below may have
some residual water damage.
Most of the building’s windows
were shattered and its ceilings
were caved in due to the fi re.
The extent of the damage is still
being determined.
While combating the blaze, the
FDNY used its state-of-the-art tethered
drone equipped with high
defi nition and infrared cameras to
view all sides of the building, alleyways
and shafts simultaneously.
The drone allowed the chiefs at
the command center outside of the
building to observe the aforementioned
areas from a safe distance.
This watchful high-tech eye in
the sky allowed the incident commander
to receive reports of the affected
areas without having to contribute
to radio traffi c by asking for
and then listening to reports about
them.
Fire marshals have yet to determine
the fi re’s cause and are investigating
if the building’s smoke detectors
were operational.
Michael de Vupillieres, American
Red Cross New York Greater
Region communication offi cer, said
American Red Cross teams were
on the scene providing food, water,
emotional support and other relief
items to 45 families consisting of
149 people.
He added that the Red Cross
worked with the MTA to have an
air conditioned bus at the scene to
provide relief to the displaced families
unday, November 13th, 12 to 3 PM
FDNY members were stationed outside of 1466 Watson Avenue after extinguishing the blaze.
Photo by Edwin Soto
.E
mergency housing at local hotels
was provided to 29 families consisting
of 105 people.
The Red Cross also provided the
displaced families with emergency
funds for basic necessities.
Approximately 43 families affected
by the blaze have met with
Red Cross case workers for additional
assistance.
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On the morning of Friday, July
12, Senator Luis Sepulveda visited
1466 Watson Avenue as representatives
from the Red Cross and NYC
Emergency Management were providing
assistance to the displaced
families.
The senator said that fi rst responders’
response to the incident
was encouraging.
Sepulveda has offered his district
offi ce at 900 Roger Place as a
central point for everyone to donate
food for families displaced by the
blaze.
He thanked the FDNY, Police
Service Area 8, the Red Cross and
NYCEM for their rapid response to
the incident.
Anyone in need of American
Red Cross assistance can contact
(877) RED-CROSS.
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