Brooklyn fire kills six as 200 firefighters battle blaze in 1915 row house
Six people died and nine were injured in a two-story Sunset Park home, with a lithium-ion battery found at the scene.
By Neha Kapoor ·
Six people died when a fire swept through a two-story residence in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park neighborhood early Thursday morning. Nine others, including three firefighters and two police officers, sustained injuries. More than 200 first responders mobilized to the scene, where the blaze damaged both the primary structure and an adjoining home.
The incident occurred in a row house built in 1915, according to city property records. Fire marshals are currently investigating the origin of the flames. A lithium-ion battery was discovered at the scene, though officials have not yet determined if it played a role in starting the fire.
Kevin Woods, the department’s chief of fire operations, described the initial conditions at a press conference near the charred building. He stated that crews encountered fire on every floor upon arrival. Woods noted that flames were blowing out every window and meeting the crew at the front door.
The fire department brought the blaze under control in approximately three hours. During the operation, firefighters accessed a rear entrance in the two-unit home to rescue four individuals. Two of the rescued victims were trapped behind window bars, Woods said.
Eight neighbors were displaced from their homes and transported to hotels. The nine injured individuals were expected to survive, with the first responders suffering minor injuries. No names have been released for the victims or the injured.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the community at the news conference, calling the event a devastating fire. He noted that the neighborhood would face a long period of mourning and recovery. Last week, an e-bike battery fire killed a boy in the Bronx. This incident is part of a trend of more than 400 lithium-ion battery fires in the city this year, which have resulted in at least six deaths and over 70 injuries.
Fire marshals continued their investigation on Thursday. The cause of the fire remains undetermined pending further analysis of the scene and the recovered battery.
