The Bronx continues to face significant fire challenges, with recent incidents highlighting ongoing safety concerns across the borough. From the devastating 2022 Twin Parks fire that killed 17 people to the November 2025 auto body shop blaze on Bronx River Avenue off East Tremont Avenue in the Van Nest neighborhood, fire remains a persistent threat to residents and businesses throughout New York’s northernmost borough.
Recent fires in the Bronx have displaced families, claimed lives, and exposed critical gaps in building safety systems. Each fire in the Bronx serves as a stark reminder of how quickly flames can spread through apartment buildings and impact entire communities.
What This Guide Covers
This guide focuses on recent major fire incidents, emergency response procedures specific to Bronx neighborhoods, and practical fire safety measures for residents. We cover current incidents, emergency protocols, and prevention strategies.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is designed for Bronx residents, families in fire-affected areas, and property owners seeking current information about local fire incidents and safety protocols. Whether you live in a high-rise apartment building like Twin Parks or a multi-family home on Boston Road, you’ll find actionable safety information tailored to Bronx housing conditions.
Why This Matters
Fire safety directly impacts community well-being, property values, and family security in dense urban areas like the Bronx. Given older buildings, space heater use, and complex emergency response challenges, residents need specific knowledge of local fire risks and prevention strategies. Understanding recent incidents helps identify patterns and prepare for emergencies.
What You’ll Learn:
- Recent major fire incidents and their causes in Bronx neighborhoods
- FDNY emergency response procedures and timeline expectations
- Apartment building fire safety protocols for older Bronx buildings
- Community resources and support available for fire prevention and recovery
Understanding Recent Fire Incidents in the Bronx
Fire incidents in the Bronx occur at concerning rates, particularly affecting older apartment buildings and commercial properties in dense neighborhoods. The borough experiences various fire types, including residential apartment fires, commercial building blazes, and vehicle fires that can spread to nearby structures.
These incidents matter because they reveal systemic safety challenges in Bronx communities. Older buildings often lack modern fire suppression systems, and investigations frequently identify preventable causes such as space heater malfunctions or building maintenance issues.
2025 Auto Body Shop Fire on Bronx River Avenue
On November 8, 2025, flames broke out at an auto body shop located on Bronx River Avenue, creating what neighbors described as a “very sad night” for the community. The blaze spread from the commercial building to neighboring homes, forcing families from their apartments as firefighters responded with multiple alarms.
The fire remains under investigation by FDNY officials, but preliminary reports suggest the flames originated in the shop’s work area before spreading through shared walls to residential buildings. This incident fits into a broader pattern in which commercial fires threaten nearby residential buildings due to the Bronx’s dense urban layout.
More than a dozen people are displaced due to this fire in the Bronx.
Recent Apartment Building Fires
On November 18, 2025, a tragic fire on Boston Road and Forest Avenue claimed the life of a 90-year-old resident, with neighbors describing the victim as a “godly woman” who had lived in the building for decades. Residents reported a “horrible smell” of smoke that filled the building during the early morning hours, making evacuation challenging for elderly tenants. The Fire Marshall’s office is investigating the cause of the blaze.
Another significant incident occurred at 722 East 168th Street in Morrisania, where flames spread through multiple floors of the apartment building.
These cases highlight ongoing concerns about fire safety in older Bronx buildings, where outdated systems and delayed response times can turn manageable incidents into tragedies.
Major Fire Incidents and Emergency Response
Major fires demonstrate both the capabilities and limitations of emergency response in the Bronx, particularly when multiple alarms are required, and hundreds of people need evacuation and medical care.
The 2022 Twin Parks North West High-Rise Fire
The January 9, 2022 fire at Twin Parks North West killed 17 people, including 8 children, making it one of the deadliest residential fires in New York City’s recent history. The 19-story building housed 120 apartments, primarily serving a West African immigrant community in the Tremont neighborhood.
Investigation revealed that a malfunctioning space heater on the second floor caused the initial blaze. However, the real tragedy occurred when self-closing doors failed to function properly, allowing smoke to spread throughout the building during what should have been a contained incident. The aftermath left dozens injured and highlighted critical building safety failures in affordable housing complexes.
Survivors described “smoky hours” of confusion as alarms sounded but evacuation procedures broke down. The community’s recovery process continues today, with many families still working toward full recovery from burns, smoke inhalation, and displacement trauma.
FDNY Response Procedures and Timeline
Firefighters responded to the Twin Parks fire within 3 minutes of the initial call, demonstrating the standard response time for emergency incidents in the Bronx. The situation quickly escalated from a 3-alarm to a 5-alarm fire as flames spread and the building’s 120 apartments required systematic evacuation.
More than 200 firefighters and emergency personnel worked the scene, with FDNY members coordinating rescue operations through smoke-filled stairwells. Officials established a command structure to manage both fire suppression and medical response, as the cause of the fire became secondary to saving lives during the critical first hours.
Medical Response and Victim Care
EMS protocols were activated immediately, with ambulances transporting victims to specialized burn units across New York. The medical response involved treating both burns and smoke inhalation injuries, requiring coordination between Bronx hospitals and Manhattan medical centers for the most severely injured patients.
Fire Safety and Prevention in Bronx Buildings
Emergency response effectiveness depends heavily on proper building safety features and resident preparedness, particularly in the types of older apartment buildings common throughout Bronx neighborhoods where families live in close proximity.
Step-by-Step: Apartment Fire Safety Protocol
- Space Heater Safety: Place devices at least 3 feet from any combustible materials, ensure electrical connections are secure, and never leave space heaters unattended. Use only certified devices with automatic shut-off features. Inspect cords regularly for damage.
- Self-Closing Door Testing: Test your apartment door monthly by opening it fully and releasing it – the door should close completely and latch securely. Report any door that doesn’t close properly to building management immediately, as this is required by the 2018 New York law.
- Emergency Evacuation Planning: Identify two exit routes from your apartment and practice with all family members, including children. Keep windows clear and know the location of the nearest stairwells; avoid elevators during fire emergencies.
- Smoke Detector Maintenance: Replace batteries twice yearly and test alarms monthly. If you’re a tenant and smoke detectors are missing or nonfunctional, this is a building code violation that requires immediate attention from the landlord.
Comparison: Older Buildings vs Modern Fire Safety
| Feature | Older Bronx Buildings | Modern Construction |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinkler Systems | Often absent or limited | Required throughout |
| Self-Closing Doors | May malfunction frequently | Automated and maintained |
| Fire Escapes | External metal structures | Internal pressurized stairwells |
| Smoke Detection | Basic battery units | Hardwired with backup power |
Buildings like Twin Parks, constructed in the 1970s, fall into the older category and require residents to be more vigilant about safety features and evacuation planning. Residents should insist that property owners assess their building’s safety level by checking for working sprinkler systems, testing door mechanisms, and identifying evacuation routes during non-emergency times.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Bronx residents face unique fire safety concerns related to heating costs, building maintenance, and emergency evacuation in dense urban environments, requiring practical solutions that address local housing realities.
Heating Issues Leading to Space Heater Use
Before using space heaters, contact building management about inadequate heat, as landlords are legally required to maintain minimum temperatures. Building heating requirements mandate 68°F during daytime hours and 62°F overnight, and tenant rights include withholding rent for heating violations after proper notice.
Malfunctioning Self-Closing Doors
Test doors monthly and immediately report problems to building management in writing, keeping copies of all communications. Self-closing doors became legally required in 2018 following previous fatal fires, and a landlord’s failure to maintain them constitutes a serious building code violation.
Document door problems with photos and timestamps, and contact 311 if building management doesn’t respond within reasonable time frames for emergency safety repairs.
Emergency Evacuation in High-Rise Buildings
In smoke-filled conditions, stay low to the floor when moving through hallways and stairwells, as clean air tends to be closer to the ground. Families with children should practice evacuation procedures and designate meeting locations outside the building.
For elderly residents or those with mobility challenges, identify neighbors who can provide assistance and inform building management about special evacuation needs during emergencies.
Contact the Law Firm of Ronemus & Vilensky
The law firm of Ronemus & Vilensky, LLP has been instrumental in fighting for the rights of fire and burn injury victims in some of the most devastating cases our city has seen in its history. Among the most accomplished personal injury lawyers, we have been called upon time and again to provide experienced legal guidance and counsel for victims of a fire in the Bronx and throughout New York City.
Additional Resources
Red Cross Emergency Assistance: Contact the Greater New York Red Cross at 877-RED-CROSS for immediate fire victim support, temporary housing, and emergency supplies during displacement recovery.
FDNY Fire Safety Education: Visit nyc.gov/fdny for building inspection requests, fire safety education programs, and community outreach initiatives specifically designed for Bronx neighborhoods and apartment buildings.
Bronx Community Support Organizations: Local community centers and tenant advocacy groups provide resources for fire prevention education, building code compliance assistance, and long-term recovery support for families affected by fire incidents.
Building Code Complaints: Report safety violations through NYC 311 (call 311 or visit 311.nyc.gov) for building inspection requests, including non-functional smoke detectors, broken self-closing doors, and inadequate heating systems that require dangerous space-heater use.
