Bronx Fire, ’One of the Worst in 30 Years,’ Kills 19, Including 9 Children, NYC Mayor Says

The cause of the fire remains unknown, but firefighters said that the door to the apartment where the blaze started was left open, which allowed the fire and smoke to spread faster.

At least 19 people, including 9 children, have been killed in a massive fire that broke out at an apartment building in the Bronx, NYC, New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed Sunday.

The US media reported earlier, citing firefighters, that more than 60 people received various injuries from smoke and fire, with at least 32 people taken to city hospitals with life-threatening injuries.

The fire has been described as one of the city’s worst in 30 years

“This is going to be one of the worst fires we have witnessed here in modern times in the city of New York," Adams told WCBS.

Photos and videos from the scene have emerged online.

Approximately 200 FDNY members are operating on scene of a 5-alarm fire at 333 East 181 Street in the Bronx. There are currently 19 serious injuries to civilians. pic.twitter.com/R3pnXs8NlX

— FDNY (@FDNY) January 9, 2022

BREAKING: 63 injured, multiple feared dead, after high rise fire in the Bronx, New York; Mayor Adams says it is ‘one of the worst fires in the city’s history’ pic.twitter.com/64GsDXvyVj

— Stoll News (@StollNews) January 9, 2022

Bronx 5th alarm with numerous victims @FDNY @NYCFireWire pic.twitter.com/Ae7UCKC3J1

— Billy Goldfeder (@BillyGoldfeder) January 9, 2022

According to officials, the five-alarm fire started in a duplex apartment on the third floor of a 19-story high-rise building at 333 East 181st Street in the Tremont section of the Bronx just before 11 a.m. on Sunday.

"The smoke conditions in this building are unprecedented," FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro told reporters. He added the flames engulfed two floors but the smoke trailed through all 19 stories of the building.

Smoke inhalation was the cause of all of the injuries, according to the FDNY.

According to ABC, about 200 firefighters were involved in extinguishing the blaze that erupted on the third floor of the 19-story building in the Bronx on Sunday morning.