The FDNY is looking into whether fireworks are to blame for a massive fire at a Brooklyn apartment complex that left seven victims injured and a number of families displaced from their homes on New Year’s Eve. According to a WABC news report, construction materials caught fire at the Boulevard Houses, a public housing complex run by the New York City Housing Authority or NYCHA just before 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 31.
Injuries and Property Damage
The fire quickly escalated to four alarms after spreading to several units. Fire marshals collected a box of fireworks left in the courtyard of the building, and their investigation will make the determination of whether that was the cause of the fire, the report said. ABC7 also reports that residents are upset with the building management company for allowing renovation materials to be left there, which might have caused the fire to spread faster, officials said.
Seven people, including two children and two firefighters, suffered smoke inhalation injuries. All are expected to survive. Twelve families were displaced from their homes and are receiving assistance from the Red Cross. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the injured victims and affected families.
Why Are Smoke Inhalation Injuries Dangerous?
Smoke inhalation injuries pose a severe threat to individuals exposed to fires. In fact, they cause more fire-related deaths than burn injuries. Smoke inhalation is dangerous because of the harmful effects of toxic gases, chemicals, and particulate matter present in smoke.
Smoke inhalation can lead to immediate respiratory issues. Inhaling smoke irritates the airways, causing inflammation, coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. The heat from the smoke can also damage the respiratory tract, leading to swelling and potential obstruction of the airways. This can result in a lack of oxygen reaching the lungs and, subsequently, the rest of the body, leading to hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) and, in severe cases, respiratory failure.
Moreover, smoke contains harmful substances like carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and other toxic chemicals, which can be absorbed into the bloodstream upon inhalation. Carbon monoxide, in particular, binds to hemoglobin more readily than oxygen, reducing the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity and potentially leading to carbon monoxide poisoning, which can result in dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness, and even death.
Long-term effects of smoke inhalation can include lung damage, chronic respiratory conditions, and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. The combination of immediate respiratory distress, potential for oxygen deprivation, toxicity from chemicals, and long-term health complications makes smoke inhalation injuries incredibly dangerous and potentially life-threatening, emphasizing the urgent need for prompt medical attention and treatment.
Property Owners’ Responsibilities
New York City laws require property owners and/or property managers to maintain spaces that are safe for tenants, visitors and guests. Property owners/managers are required to provide, install and maintain smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in each unit. The devices should also be maintained and remain in good working order.
When a fire or accident at a building is caused by negligence (carelessness) or a lack of proper maintenance, the property owners and/or property managers may be held liable for the injuries and loss of life that occurs. Injured victims or families of deceased victims can file a premises liability claim against the responsible parties including, but not limited to, the property owner, property manager, maintenance/repair company, etc.
Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones can file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation as well.
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 New York 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/or manager.
Our firm also obtained a $985,000 settlement out of a $1 million 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.
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://abc7ny.com/nyc-apartment-fire-brooklyn-east-new-york/14252329/