5 injured, including firefighters and child, in Bronx building fire

Wednesday, March 1, 2023
FORDHAM, Bronx (WABC) -- A man is in custody after a fire in the Bronx left at least five people injured, including a child, on Wednesday morning.

The fire was reported at 2718 Morris Avenue around 8:30 a.m. and was under control shortly after 10 a.m.

The injuries also included two firefighters. All the victims were taken to St. Barnabas Hospital with minor injuries.

Police said a 27-year-old man is in custody for reportedly setting a mattress on fire that sparked the blaze.

He is in custody with charges pending.



Neighbors shared video on social media that showed flames and smoke shooting from a fourth-floor window.



One woman blamed her neighbor's recklessness.

"He literally said that he dropped something under the bed and he used a lighter to look for it, and that's what caused the fire," resident Amber De La Cruz said.

De La Cruz is now worried about her cat inside and she wonders why she didn't hear anything but the screams of neighbors to alert her that there was a fire.



"No alarms went off, my alarm did not go off and if I would've never opened my door, I would never know there was a fire," she said.
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At least 19 residents are homeless and will be taken care of by the American Red Cross.

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