Nine people, including six firefighters were injured in a fire in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. According to a WABC news report, the fire broke out at 2411 Dean Street in the Ocean Hill section the night of Aug. 26. Thirty people were also displaced as a result of the fire. FDNY officials said the roof of the first building to catch fire collapsed into the top floor even as firefighters battled the flames to keep them from spreading.
A witness described the fire as stubborn and that it kept jumping from one house to another. It spread through the cocklofts to four other homes on Dean Street, officials said. One person reportedly jumped out of one of the buildings to escape the flames, witnesses said. Officials also said the roofs of all five buildings partially collapsed. New York City Department of Buildings has issued a full vacate order. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected by this fire.
Liability in Residential Fires
Liability for residential fires can fall on various parties depending on the circumstances. Property owners and property managers can be held liable if they fail to address known fire hazards or do not ensure that safety measures such as working smoke detectors are in place.
Manufacturers can be held accountable if a fire is caused by defective products, such as faulty appliances or electrical equipment. In such cases, a product liability claim may be pursued. Additionally, contractors or builders can face liability if poor construction practices or code violations contributed to the fire. Also, in some cases, a neighbor or another party can be at fault if their actions, such as careless burning or failing to control a fire, led to injuries and damages. Determining liability often requires a thorough investigation to establish the cause of the fire and assess the extent of each party’s responsibility.
How Smoke Detectors Can Help
In New York, smoke detector laws are in place to enhance safety and reduce fire-related injuries and fatalities. The New York State Residential Code mandates that smoke detectors be installed in every residence, including single-family homes, multifamily buildings, and apartments. Specifically, smoke detectors must be placed near each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement. For newly constructed or renovated homes, the law requires the installation of both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors that are hardwired into the electrical system or have battery backups.
The intention of these regulations is to ensure early detection of smoke and fire, providing critical time for residents to escape and seek safety. Smoke detectors can significantly reduce the risk of injury and loss by alerting occupants to danger before the smoke or flames become overwhelming. When smoke detectors detect smoke, they emit a loud alarm that wakes sleeping individuals, giving them time to exit the premises. The prompt alert also enables quicker action from emergency services, potentially reducing the severity of the fire and its damage.
Regular maintenance, including testing and replacing batteries or detectors as needed, is crucial to ensure that these devices function properly. By adhering to smoke detector laws and maintaining these devices, property owners and property managers can greatly reduce the risk of fire-related injuries and fatalities.
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 fire accident lawyer 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 52 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://abc7ny.com/post/crown-heights-brooklyn-fire-9-people-injured-31-displaced-after-blaze-tears-row-homes/15234448/