Bronx, NY – Elderly Woman Dead, Eight Injured in Four-Alarm House Fire on Valentine Ave

Bronx, NY (May 10, 2022) – A 73-year-old woman died and eight more sustained varying degrees of injury during a massive fire at a home in the Bronx on Tuesday, May 9th. 

The fire broke out in a two-story home on Valentine Avenue in the area of East 182nd Street in the Fordham Heights section of the borough at about 9:00 a.m. and quickly stretched to two adjacent homes. 

Within four minutes, units responded and discovered huge flames in the back of the dwelling. The FDNY Acting Chief of Operations commented that wind conditions aided the spread of the blaze to the neighboring structures.

The elderly woman, who was found on the first floor, was pronounced at the scene. It is unclear if she was a resident.

Her name is being withheld pending family notification.

Three firefighters and five civilians also sustained injuries.

The conflagration was escalated to four alarms, eliciting a response from 75 EMS and FDNY units before it was contained.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased victim at this time. Our thoughts are with the injured victims and their families in hopes of a full recovery.

Liability for Structure Fires in New York

Structure fires are the cause of hundreds of fire-related deaths and injuries every year. Anytime a structure burns, its occupants are in danger of sustaining smoke inhalation injuries, thermal burns, and even death. Victims of structure fires also commonly experience injuries due to inhaling toxic chemicals emitted from burning materials inside the structure.

A few of the main causes of structure fires, including apartment, house, and building fires, include: 

• Faulty appliances
• Outdated electrical wiring
• Damaged or improperly installed gas lines
• Obstructed chimney flues
• Malfunctioning boilers or furnaces

Along with establishing the fire’s causing, it is also vital to determine if the action or inaction of a third party contributed to either the fire itself or to the occupants’ ability to safely flee the structure. 

Some of the factors a New York fire injury attorney will investigate are:

• Whether the property owner complied with building and fire codes
• Whether proper fire safety equipment was present 
• Whether vents and fireplaces were adequately maintained
• Whether exits and fire escapes were available and functioning properly
• Whether fire doors were used
• Whether smoke detectors were tested, installed, and working
• Whether firewalls were in place and properly built

In the event that a fire or the inability to react safely to one was the result of the action or inaction of a third party, a victim with a fire-related injury could have a valid claim against the negligent person or entity. 

It is not uncommon for people to fall victim to disastrous accidents arising from the careless actions of building managers, property owners, landlords, contractors, and product manufacturers. When this happens, the appropriate response may be to file a legal claim against the at-fault party. 

Reach out to our fire injury attorneys in New York at (800) 460-6476 to see how we can help you.

Notes: Outside sources were used in the creation of this post including news bulletins and first-hand accounts of the accident and injuries involved. As a result, the details of the accident presented have not been independently verified. If you have identified any false information in the story or would like the post to be removed, please inform us immediately, and we will correct the information or remove the post. 

Disclaimer: As a member of the local community, we at Metro Law strive to improve the overall safety and quality of life for everyone who lives in our beloved state. We are extremely saddened by these accidents but hope that through an awareness of these dangers, those in our community will take precautions to avoid these accidents. This is not a solicitation for business, and this information should not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. We wish only the best and quickest recovery to all those involved in the accident. The photos depicted in this post are not from the actual accident scene.