NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A man was killed and a woman was critically injured early Thursday after they became trapped in a house fire in the Bronx, police and fire officials said.
There was extensive clutter throughout the home at East 176th Street and Clay Avenue in Mt. Hope, creating challenging conditions for firefighters working the fire, according to the FDNY.
The inferno erupted shortly after 6 a.m. on the third floor of a four-story, multi-family dwelling. More than 100 fire and EMS personnel responded.
An unidentified man was pronounced dead at the scene, while a woman in her 50s was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital in critical condition. She suffered from burns and smoke inhalation, the FDNY said.
The fire marshal was working to determine the cause of the fire, but it's not believed to be lithium-ion battery related, according to the FDNY.
Shocked residents stood outside the heavily damaged home, where flames engulfed three of the four floors.
FDNY Deputy Chief Christopher Ritchie said people should make sure they have an escape plan if a fire breaks out.
"Have a way out, you're going to need a way out of your apartment," Ritchie said. "Don't just have a pile of stuff in your apartment, have a path to get out and be safe."