Six dead in Brooklyn fire that collapsed second floor

Six people died in a fire that tore through a residential building on 58th Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, on Thursday morning.

More than 230 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene around 1:40 a.m. They found the first and second stories fully engulfed in flames and heavy smoke pouring from windows. The incident escalated to a three-alarm fire as the structure began to fail.

The second floor and staircase collapsed during the blaze. The fire also spread to a neighboring building. Firefighters located four bodies inside the structure. Two other victims were transported to the hospital in critical condition and later died.

Nine people sustained minor to serious injuries. The group included three firefighters and two police officers. Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that eight displaced residents were taken to hotels. Mamdani described the event as a devastating fire and said the city would support the neighborhood as it mourns and recovers.

Investigators are determining the cause of the fire. Hazmat teams were called to the scene after a lithium-ion battery was discovered in the debris. The FDNY noted that these devices are common in homes. The fire marshal is currently at the site to decide if the battery sparked the blaze. This incident occurred more than a week after four family members were hospitalized in critical condition following an e-scooter fire.