Investigation Underway After Two People Died In Manhattan Apartment Fire On 178th Street In Washington Heights
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (August 22, 2024) – Two people have tragically died in a Manhattan apartment fire at a building on 178th Street.
New York City police are saying that the incident took place around 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday. A fire started on the sixth floor of the building.
An elderly woman and an elderly man were both critically injured in the blaze. They were transported to a local hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
A full investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Manhattan Apartment Fires
Residential fires remain a leading cause of preventable injury and death. According to the National Safety Council, “One- and two-family home fires account for 59.1% of civilian deaths and 54.3% of injuries. Apartment structure fires account for 12.4% of deaths and 20.8% of injuries. For overall home fires, the 2022 rate of 7.5 deaths per 1,000 reported home fires was 6% higher than the rate of 7.1 in 1980, but a decrease of 5% from 2021.” Apartments may have several defects that could contribute to a fire.
- An apartment may have faulty electrical wiring that could lead to short-circuits and a fire.
- An apartment may have defective appliances such as stoves, heaters, or dryers.
- An apartment may have improperly stored flammable materials.
- An apartment may have a blocked or locked fire exit.
All property owners have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This must be done for the protection of all people whose presence is reasonably foreseeable. When a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition with their property, they must take action. Apartment owners should take several actions to prevent fires.
- Apartments should have functional smoke detectors.
- Apartments should install fire extinguishers.
- Apartments should maintain fire escapes and exits.
- Apartment owners should inspect and maintain electrical systems.
Apartment fires are often highly preventable. They tend to occur when property owners fail to take reasonable safety precautions. Sadly, though, apartment owners will often do everything to deny responsibility if someone on their property dies. The family of any person who died in an apartment fire may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating New York City Apartment Fires
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the families of these two people who died. Any person who may have more information should reach out to the NYFD. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.
Do you need more information about a Manhattan apartment fire? Our team of premises liability attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
