A fire tore through a two-story home on 58th Street in Sunset Park on Thursday, Nov. 5, killing six people and injuring nine others, reported NBC New York.
Kevin Woods, FDNY chief of operations, told NBC that there was fire on every floor by the time they had arrived. First Deputy Commissioner Flynn said that they had arrived on the scene within three minutes of the initial call.
According to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, it is still too early to determine the cause of the fire. Council Speaker Julie Menin said that investigators are continuing to look into the cause, and that “the presence of lithium-ion batteries at the scene [are] a serious concern.”
“It will take a long time for this neighborhood to mourn the neighbors they lost this morning and to recover from this immense grief,” Mamdani said at a press conference following the event.
Regarding two victims of the fire that are still in the hospital, Mamdani said they “are not only praying for them but looking at every single tool at [their] disposal.”
Councilmember Susan Zhuang, who represents Sunset Park, said that her office was on the ground working with community organizations to help those affected.
“In moments like these, our community must come together,” Zhuang said in a statement. “We are here, and we will continue to stand with those affected."
Three firefighters were among those injured on the scene.
“I am praying for the full recovery of those who were injured, including three heroic firefighters,” Menin said. “This is a heartbreaking tragedy, and I am deeply grateful to the first responders who rushed to the scene to put their own lives at risk to save others.”
New York City public advocate Jumaane D. Williams said that the Red Cross is currently helping displaced residents to find temporary shelter, and that the city must make sure they have resources at their disposal in the coming weeks.
