A tragic morning in Hell’s Kitchen
It’s a rough start to the weekend in the city. A fire broke out around 11:15 a.m. this morning in a five-story apartment building located on West 49th Street, right between Eighth and Ninth Avenues in the Theater District.
The situation
According to officials, the blaze started on the top floor of the building, which dates back to the early 1900s. The situation called for a massive emergency response, with 79 FDNY and EMS personnel rushing to the scene to get things under control.
Two civilians were rescued from the building and immediately transported to NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in critical condition. Sadly, one man passed away, while the second victim has since been upgraded to stable condition.
Fire marshals have already investigated the scene and determined that the fire was accidental, specifically citing an electrical issue as the cause.
Why it matters
This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly things can change in older city buildings. It’s a sad day for the neighborhood, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident.
