A five-alarm fire that broke out early morning on Jan. 10 left seven people injured and more than 250 people in need of shelter and emergency assistance. According to a CBS News report, firefighters responded at around 1:45 a.m. to a six-story apartment building at 2910 Wallace Avenue in the Allerton section of the Bronx. Once crews arrived, they determined that the fire was at the building’s top floor. Officials said the roof and all apartments on the top floor were gutted and water damaged all other units.
Firefighters struggled with the cold weather and windy conditions to put the fire out. Five firefighters and two residents sustained non-life-threatening injuries and five of the victims were transported to area hospitals for treatment, FDNY officials said. The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) issued a full-vacate order and ordered the construction of a sidewalk shed around the building. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims and all individuals and families that have been displaced as a result of this fire. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
Residents Say Building Had Problems
One neighbor told CBS News that there had been “little to no heat” at the apartment building for about three years. Sometimes, there was also no hot water and many of the residents used space heaters, based on the news report. Another neighbor said the building had electrical issues. She said there was a problem with the wiring and a lack of circuit breakers. City officials have said they will look into residents’ complaints and try to get answers.
CBS News New York reports that there have been about 70 complaints made to 311 (the city’s hotline) about lack of heat and hot water since October 2024. All were resolved except for a complaint made on Jan. 8, two days prior to the fire. The building’s owner owns dozens of buildings across New York City. He also topped the city’s “Worst Landlord” list 10 years ago, according to news reports.
Property Owner’s/Manager’s Responsibilities
In New York, property owners/managers have specific legal responsibilities regarding the installation and maintenance of smoke detectors to ensure tenant safety. According to New York City law, property owners/managers must install at least one operational smoke detector in each apartment or dwelling unit. These devices must be placed near each sleeping area, and the alarms must meet standards set by FDNY.
In addition to installing the detectors, property owners/managers are responsible for replacing any smoke detectors that become defective. The law requires that these smoke detectors be equipped with a non-removable, non-replaceable battery that lasts at least 10 years.
Property owners/managers are required to provide written instructions on how to properly maintain the detectors and what to do in case of malfunction. Failure to comply with smoke detector regulations can result in fines for property owners/managers, especially if it leads to unsafe living conditions. Ensuring that smoke detectors are installed and maintained is a critical part of a building owner’s/manager’s responsibility to promote fire safety in rental properties.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Whether you have been living as a tenant at a private apartment complex or in a public housing unit (NYCHA) (the Projects), please remember that you have legal rights. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of dangerous conditions, the experienced personal injury attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For over 53 years, our skilled attorneys have established a proven track record of assisting injured victims. One of our clients — a hot water burn victim — secured $750,000 in damages from the property owner and manager.
Our firm also obtained a $985,000 settlement out of a $1 million insurance policy for two people who suffered smoke inhalation injuries because the homeowner did not have smoke detectors installed and the $15,000 that was left on the insurance policy was for a person that we did not represent. Another of our clients recovered $2,500,000 due to a faulty space heater. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/fire-in-the-bronx-allerton/