An early-morning fire tore through a Parkchester home on Saturday, critically injuring one resident and sending a wave of firefighters and medics into the quiet Bronx block before sunrise.
First responders were called to 1552 Leland Ave just before 3:30 a.m., where roughly 141 fire and EMS personnel worked to knock down the flames, according to News 12 New York. Crews managed to get the blaze under control in about an hour and a half.
CBS New York reported that one person was critically hurt in the fire and taken to Jacobi Medical Center. Officials have not released the victim’s name or other identifying details, and investigators are still sorting through the debris to determine what sparked the blaze.
Large Response, Neighborhood Toll
The heavy response in Parkchester fits a pattern Bronx residents know all too well. A March second-alarm fire elsewhere in the borough drew 46 units and 141 fire and EMS personnel, according to FOX 5 NY, a reminder of how quickly a residential fire can overwhelm a building and rattle an entire block.
Investigations and Safety Reminders
As fire marshals investigate the cause, city agencies are again leaning on familiar safety advice. The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development and FDNY’s “Keeping Homes Fire Safe” initiative stress the importance of working smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors and urge tenants to report hazardous or illegal conditions through 311, per the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Officials have not immediately provided further updates on the injured resident’s condition beyond the report that they were taken to Jacobi Medical Center. Local outlets and emergency agencies say more information will be released as the investigation continues.
