Brooklyn residents trapped behind window bars as fire kills six
Over 200 responders battled a blaze in Sunset Park that also damaged a neighboring home.
By Aaron Foster ·
The Department of Firefighting and Rescue reported that a fire spread rapidly through a two-story row house in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn early Thursday morning. Six people died in the blaze, and nine others sustained injuries. Among the injured were three firefighters and two police officers.
More than 200 first responders arrived at the scene to combat the flames. Kevin Woods, the department’s chief of fire operations, described the intensity of the incident during a press conference held near the charred structure. "Upon arrival, we had fire on every floor," Woods stated. "Fire blowing out every window, meeting us at the front door."
Crews managed to rescue four individuals by entering the two-unit home through the rear. Two of the victims were trapped behind window bars, according to the chief. The fire also affected an adjoining residence, and it took approximately three hours to bring the blaze under control. Eight neighbors were displaced from their homes and transported to hotels.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the public at the news conference, describing the event as a devastating loss for the community. "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. The department indicated that all nine injured individuals were expected to survive. The three firefighters and two officers sustained minor injuries, and no names had been released as of the briefing.
Fire marshals began investigating the cause of the incident. A lithium-ion battery was discovered at the scene, though officials noted it was unclear if it was responsible for starting the fire. City property records show the home was built in 1915. This incident follows a series of battery-related fires in the city, including one last week in the Bronx that killed a boy.
Fire officials reported that more than 400 fires in the city have been linked to lithium-ion batteries this year. These incidents have resulted in at least six deaths and over 70 injuries. The investigation into the specific cause of the Brooklyn fire is ongoing.
