3-year anniversary of historic, tragic Bronx fire that killed 13

Monday, December 28, 2020
Monday marks three years since that tragic fire in the Bronx.
BELMONT, The Bronx (WABC) -- Monday marks the third anniversary of a tragic five-alarm fire in an apartment building in the Bronx that killed 13 people, the deadliest fire in New York City in a quarter century.

Authorities say the door to the Prospect Avenue apartment in the Belmont section was left open, allowing smoke and flames to spread into the hallway, staircase, and other floors.

The FDNY has released public service announcements reminding people that closing doors isolates fire and prevents smoke from spreading.

The victims included a baby, a toddler, a child, two teenagers, and eight adults.

PHOTOS from the scene:
Charred items sit on the fire escape of an apartment building where more than 10 people died in a fire a day earlier in the Bronx borough of New York, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017.AP
Firefighters respond to a deadly fire Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in the Bronx borough of New York.AP
Emelia Ascheampong, right, a resident of the building where more than 10 people died in a fire on Thursday, is hugged by a friend on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in the Bronx.AP
Smoke rises from a window of a burned apartment of the building where twelve people died in a fire on Thursday, on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in the Bronx borough of New York.AP
A woman looks out the window of a building adjacent to an apartment building where more than 10 people died in fire a day earlier in the Bronx.AP
This Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, photo shows broken windows on the back of the building where more than 10 people died Thursday in a fire in the Bronx borough of New York.AP
Police stand guard as paramedics leave the scene near the building Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, where more than 10 people died in a fire on Thursday in the Bronx.AP
Firefighters respond to a building fire Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in the Bronx borough of New York.AP
A man uses a cell phone to take images of an apartment building where more than 10 people died in fire a day earlier in the Bronx borough of New York, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017.AP
Fernando Beatiz talks to reporters near the site of an apartment fire where more than 10 people died in a fire a day earlier in the Bronx.AP
A police officer walks in between firefighters trucks Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in the Bronx.AP
Juan I. Sanchez waits for officials to let him drop off flowers at the site of a deadly fire in the Bronx, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017.AP
Betty Rodriguez and her husband Joel Rodriguez, residents of the building where more than 10 people died in a fire on Thursday, react as they talk to the media on Dec. 29, 2017.AP
Firefighters respond to a deadly fire Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in the Bronx borough of New York.AP
A resident leaves the scene Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, near the building where more than 10 people died in a fire on Thursday, in the Bronx borough of New York.AP
Police and workers inspect the building Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, where more than 10 people died in a fire in the Bronx borough of New York.AP
A firefighter ladder lay on the wall as furniture is seen through the broken windows of a building Friday, Dec. 29, 2017.AP
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New York City officials said it appeared a young child playing with a stove caused the fire.

The child's mother then escaped the apartment with her kids but left the front door open, which acted like a chimney and allowed the fire to quickly travel up the stairs.

Four of the victims were members of the same family, and a soldier also died while saving building residents.

Emmanuel Mensah initially escaped the deadly fire but reentered the burning building at least three times to rescue others.

PHOTOS: Bronx fatal fire victims
49-year-old Solomon Donkornone
58-year-old Maria Baptise and her 8-month-old granddaughter Amora Serenity Vidal both died.WABC
27-year-old Holt Francis' (nickname is Kevin) wife and two children also died in the fire.WABC
2-year-old Kylie FrancisWABC
7-year-old Kelesha "Kelly" FrancisWABC
37-year-old Karen Stewart FrancisWABC
19-year-old Shawntay YoungWABC
Emmanuel Mensah was 28 years old. He was on the third floor of the building.none

The victims, whose ages ranged from 7 months to 63, were identified as:
-- 7-month-old Amora Serenity Vidal
-- 2-year-old Kylie Francis
-- 7-year-old Kelesha "Kelly" Francis
-- 19-year-old Shantay Young
-- 17-year-old Hannah Donkor
-- 27-year-old Holt Francis
-- 28-year-old Emmanuel Mensah
-- 37-year-old Karen Francis
-- 48-year-old Gabriel Yaw Sarkookie
-- 49-year-old Solomon Donkor
-- 54-year-old Justice Opoku
-- 58-year-old Maria Batiz
--63-year-old William Donkor

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