A pre-dawn fire ripped through the top floor of a five-story apartment building at 3345 Decatur Ave in the Norwood section of the Bronx early Friday, sending a resident and a firefighter to the hospital with minor injuries. Thick smoke poured from the upper windows as FDNY engines and ladder companies flooded the block, temporarily shutting down streets around East 209th Street and East Gun Hill Road while crews knocked down the flames and searched apartments.
How the Fire Unfolded
The FDNY received the alarm at 7:39 a.m. and had the blaze under control by 8:10 a.m., according to News 12. One civilian and one firefighter suffered minor injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals, the department said. Smoke was visible from top-floor windows of the five-story building as firefighters stretched hose lines, raised ladders and worked to keep the flames from spreading. Fire marshals stayed on scene after the fire was out while investigators began the work of figuring out what sparked it.
Injuries and a Safety Reminder
The FDNY's Get Alarmed NYC effort underscores a basic but critical point: working smoke alarms sharply cut the risk of dying in a home fire. The program offers free installation appointments for New Yorkers and has been distributing sealed, long-life smoke alarms while coordinating with community groups across the city. That outreach includes Bronx neighborhoods the department identifies as higher risk, according to FDNY, which recommends sealed, long-life alarms for at-risk housing.
What Officials Say Next
Authorities said there were no immediate details on the identities or current conditions of the injured firefighter and resident, and investigators continued checking the building for fire damage, News 12 reported. The department has not yet released information on possible displacements or any long-term closures as the investigation into the blaze continues.
