Harlem, NY – Four Injured in Apartment Fire on Park Ave

Harlem, NY (February 16, 2024) – A structure fire was reported to fire crews in Harlem on the evening of February 15 that resulted in injuries. 

At approximately 8:24 p.m., emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of the incident in the 1900 block of Park Avenue. Fire crews responded to reports of smoke in an apartment and, upon arrival at the scene, confirmed a fire on the first floor of the apartment building. Police report that four people suffered injuries in the blaze. Emergency medical services were requested at the scene in order to render aid to those in need of medical care. Currently, the identities of those with injuries have not been reported to the public. Police in Harlem are still investigating the circumstances of the incident. 

We hope for the fast recovery of those with injuries. 

New York Structure Fires

From 2017 to 2022, There were nearly 4,000 structure fires reported in New York City. The average number of structure fires reported per month in the city of New York is around 30. Unfortunately, numerous individuals end up sustaining injuries in these incidents, including burn injuries and smoke inhalation injuries. Most burn injuries are classified into one of three categories: 

• 1st-degree/Superficial burns: A burn affecting only the top layer of skin (epidermis), such as you see with sunburn or after touching a hot stove. These burns typically take a few days to heal.
• 2nd-degree/Partial-thickness burns: These burns reach the second layer of skin (dermis). More serious than a 1st-degree burn, it may require skin grafts and result in permanent scarring.  
• 3rd-degree/Full-thickness burns: Burns of this magnitude ravage the third layer (hypodermis), causing the loss of not just the skin but also the sweat glands, hair follicles, and the stratum basale where new skin cells are formed.

Smoke inhalation is the leading cause of residential fire fatalities, not burn injuries as one might expect. Those who live, however, often experience a significant amount of both. These injuries are exceptionally painful and expensive to treat. 

Considering that about 80% of fire fatalities in the United States are residential, it is quite obvious that the prevention of residential fires is a major public safety problem. Improper disposal of tobacco products is the number one cause of fatal residential fires while cooking appliances, such as grills and stoves, are the number one cause of burn injuries in residential fires. 

If you were burned in a house or apartment fire, an explosion, electric shock, or electrical flash fire, the New Jersey burn injury lawyers at Metro Law are here to help. 

Our attorneys work diligently to ensure families have their legal rights protected so they can move forward after a serious burn injury. Contact the burn injury lawyers in Harlem by calling (800) 460-6476 to see how we can help you.