Overview
- The early-morning blaze on the 700 block of West 34th Street engulfed the unoccupied two-story building and was brought under control within about an hour with no injuries reported.
- Fire department spokesperson John Marsh said the cause was an electrical accident, and investigators issued the same determination for last month’s fire at nearby landmark The Castle.
- Freezing temperatures and snow created difficult conditions for firefighters as they worked to knock down the two-alarm fire.
- Falkenhan’s sits beside the Miracle on 34th Street holiday display, which Councilwoman Odette Ramos said would continue as planned Monday evening.
- Local leaders and residents voiced frustration over a run of significant fires, while the fire officers’ union noted total monthly incident counts track near recent averages despite more higher-alarm events.