A tragic fire broke out in a six-story apartment building on the Upper East Side of Manhattan Monday night, leaving one person dead and six firefighters with minor injuries. The fire started around 7:15 p.m. on 82nd Street, between York and East End Avenues, and quickly turned into a massive emergency.
When firefighters arrived, they were met with heavy flames engulfing the fifth and sixth floors of the building. As they worked to battle the fire, it spread downward to the fourth floor. Crews had to work tirelessly, using multiple hoses and even tearing apart walls to get the flames under control.
#FDNY Operations are ongoing at the 3-alarm fire at 526 E 82 Street in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/5OILQBRbMy
— FDNY (@FDNY) December 3, 2024
By 7:40 p.m., the situation was so intense that the fire was escalated to a three-alarm emergency. In total, about 138 firefighters and EMS personnel from 33 emergency response units responded to the scene, putting in a tremendous effort to contain the blaze.
Sadly, a civilian, whose identity has not been released, was found in the hallway on the fifth floor and did not survive. The fourth, fifth, and sixth floors suffered severe fire and smoke damage, while other parts of the building were soaked from the water used to fight the fire. Several apartments were affected, leaving many residents displaced.
“It’s a cold night, and fighting fires is inherently dangerous,” an FDNY spokesperson said. “With water everywhere, windows breaking, and heavy smoke, it’s a tough situation. Thankfully, all firefighter injuries were minor.”
To help the residents who lost their homes, an MTA bus was brought in to provide temporary shelter until they could find a safer place to stay.
Fire marshals are now investigating what caused the fire. The neighborhood remains in shock as residents come to terms with the tragic loss and the damage done to their community.
