June 25, 2024 MANHATTAN, New York – Two people died and six others injured during an early morning blaze that broke out on the top floor of a Washington Heights apartment building.
According to FDNY officials at the scene, during searches firefighters found a 77-year-old woman in a top floor apartment and a 74-year-old man was found near the rear of the same unit. The elderly couple were rushed to Harlem Hospital in critical condition and pronounced deceased.
Firefighters responded to an all hands fire in a 6 story apartment building that quickly escalated to a 3 alarm response after first responders were met with intense flames. Three firefighters and three additional civilians were also reported injured, said FDNY officials.
Fire was reported at around 1:45 a.m., and said to have started in a sixth floor apartment at 718 W 178th St near Broadway and West 177th Street in the Washington Heights neighborhood of upper Manhattan.
Fire marshals are investigating the blaze to determine the actual cause of the fatal fire.