Overview
- A two‑alarm blaze broke out around 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday on the fourth floor of a six‑story building at 1484 Montgomery Ave. in Morris Heights and drew roughly 140 FDNY and EMS personnel before being controlled just before 10 a.m.
- Firefighters and emergency crews found one resident dead inside the origin unit and treated about 10–12 others for injuries, including five or more firefighters; a 31‑year‑old man who apparently jumped from an upper floor is hospitalized in critical condition.
- FDNY fire marshals are reviewing Ring doorbell footage that reportedly shows a man carrying an open flame and setting a cardboard box in the hallway, but officials have not yet declared an official cause.
- Tenants and city officials say the building had longstanding Housing Preservation and Development violations and complaints about hallway conditions and a problematic neighbor, and residents and elected officials say they blame the landlord for failing to fix hazards.
- Authorities posted a vacate order for 59 apartments, the FDNY issued summonses and towed a vehicle that was blocking a hydrant at the scene, and the Red Cross is assisting at least 67 displaced people as inspectors examine how shared bathroom walls and the cockloft helped the blaze spread.