Bronx, NY (April 22, 2026) – A five-alarm fire tore through a century-old five-story mixed-use building on East 187th Street between Belmont Avenue and Cambreleng Avenue in the Bronx on Wednesday, April 22, killing two people and injuring nearly a dozen others. Emergency units responded just after 1:30 p.m.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire on the first floor of the building, which houses both commercial businesses and residential units. The flames spread rapidly up the stairwell, engulfing each floor in succession. More than 270 firefighters and EMS workers responded to the scene.
Rescue crews used ladder companies to reach tenants stranded at windows and on fire escapes, including one person trapped without access to a fire escape. As the fire reached the upper floors, the building was deemed structurally unstable, and crews shifted to fighting the fire from outside. The building’s roof and stairwell collapsed during the blaze.
Two people were killed in the fire. Two others were taken to local hospitals with serious injuries. Five firefighters and four civilians suffered minor injuries. The building, which contains 26 residential units, sustained heavy damage throughout. Engineers were scheduled to assess the structure’s stability, as it remains at risk of further collapse. A reception center was opened at a nearby school for displaced residents.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and more details will be released as they become available.
Our sincere condolences go out to the families of the two victims lost in this fire.
Why Are Older Mixed-Use Buildings in New York at Greater Fire Risk?
Buildings constructed over a century ago were often built before modern fire codes and safety standards existed. Many lack the fireproofing materials, sprinkler systems, and compartmentalization features found in newer construction. In older urban structures, open stairwells and interior voids can allow fire and smoke to spread from floor to floor with alarming speed.
Mixed-use buildings, those combining commercial and residential spaces, present added complexity during a fire response. Ground-floor businesses can introduce a wider variety of flammable materials, and the layout of older buildings often differs significantly from modern designs that firefighters train on regularly. In dense neighborhoods like those found throughout the Bronx, these fires can also affect neighboring structures and large numbers of residents in a short amount of time.
