Bronx Apartment Building Fire on Easter Sunday: Families Evacuated

Massive Four-Alarm Fire in the Bronx

• 🚒 A four-alarm fire erupted in a six-story apartment building on Cypress Avenue in the Bronx on Easter Sunday.
• 💨 Thick black smoke billowed from the windows as nearly 200 firefighters battled the blaze.
• 📍 The fire started on the sixth floor and quickly spread across the top floor and into the space between the ceiling and the roof.

Tenant Evacuation and Warning

• ⚠️ Dozens of families were forced to evacuate with very little warning, some with only the clothes on their backs.
• 📢 Many residents on the top floors did not hear smoke detectors and were alerted by neighbors.
• 🏠 No one needed to be formally rescued, but the rapid spread of the fire posed a significant risk.

Injuries and Damage

• 🩹 Thankfully, there were no serious injuries reported, though five minor injuries occurred: three to residents and two to firefighters.
• 🤕 One grandfather was treated for cuts from broken glass while escaping with his family.
• 🏢 Significant damage was sustained to at least four apartments on the top floor, and residents are concerned about water damage.

Red Cross and Temporary Shelter

• 🤝 The Red Cross is providing assistance to displaced tenants, particularly those from the sixth floor apartments.
• 🏫 A school across the street has been set up as a temporary shelter for residents who cannot return to their homes.
• ✅ Firefighters worked to cut openings in the roof and expose the fire to stop its spread, a challenging task due to the roof space.