Fire and ice in The Bronx
23 hurt in another blaze on frigid morn
Firefighters battled the elements nearly as much as the flames during a Bronx blaze that left 23 people injured early Tuesday.
Nine children and a Bravest were among those hurt.
The fire erupted at 5:30 a.m., when the temperature was about 13 degrees, in a furniture store below a four-story apartment building at 1547 Commonwealth Ave. in the Van Nest section, the FDNY said.
The mattresses in the store helped feed the blaze, while the frigid temps outside led to two of its seven alarms, authorities said.
“We had a very advanced fire that moved quickly up through this building,” said FDNY Assistant Chief Roger Sakowich. “Obviously, the cold and ice is affecting us more once we had to come out and fight it from the outside.”
The water from the fire hoses turned to ice on the ground, and firefighters had to be replaced immediately as they came from the building nearly frozen in place.
“We had to relieve our units much more quicker than normal,” Sakowich said.
“Once they get wet and come out, we can’t have people standing out here soaking wet. We’re up to seven alarms — and probably two of those alarms were just because of the cold.”
The flames broke out less than a week after 12 people were killed in a blaze about a mile and a half away, in what was the city’s deadliest fire in more than 25 years.
Billowing smoke from the burning mattresses in Tuesday’s blaze made bad conditions worse, Sakowich said.
The building suffered structural damage, prompting concerns of a collapse.
Jesus Cid, the building’s super, said his three small kids were among 22 people who suffered non-life-threatening injuries. One person was in serious condition.
“Our kids are in the hospital for now, but no lives are lost,” said Cid, 44. “When I carried my babies, it was so dark. I carried one; my wife carried the other one; my niece carried the other one.”
The blaze was brought under control at around noon. The cause is under investigation.
The displaced residents took shelter on an MTA bus to keep warm during the fire.