Culture
One of the worst fires in the history of New York City
Sunday's fire in the Bronx was labeled one of the city's worst fires in modern times
January 10, 2022 2:08pm
Updated: January 10, 2022 4:59pm
The fire that broke out in a Bronx apartment building on Sunday morning was described as one of the worst in New York City history.
The incident killed 19 people, including 9 children, and injured 63 people, 32 of whom have life-threatening injuries.
"The numbers are horrific," Mayor Eric Adams said. "This is going to be one of the worst fires we've witnessed during modern times."
Here are some of the worst fires the city has recorded in recent decades.
Bronx apartment fire in 2017
A three-year-old boy playing with a kitchen stove caused a fire on December 28, 2017, killing 12 people in a Bronx apartment building.
A 58-year-old woman, her 7-month-old granddaughter, as well as a mother and her 2-year-old and 7-year-old daughters, were among the 12 deaths.
The fire broke out on the second floor of the building and quickly spread through the five-story structure, which had no elevator.
Bronx fire in 2007
A fire caused by a space heater claimed the lives of 9 people and killed at least one entire family. At the time, it was described as the worst fire in the city's history since 1990.
Fire at the Happy Land club in 1990
On March 25, 1990, Cuban exile Julio González, who arrived in the United States during the Mariel exodus, set fire to the Happy Land club in New York.
Gonzalez went to the club to try to regain the attention of his ex-girlfriend, Lydia Feliciano, who was in charge of the club's coat check and with whom he had a fierce argument that night. Gonzalez was kicked out from the club, but returned at 3:00 a.m. to spray gasoline on the only guest exit and lit two matches.
In a matter of minutes, some 87 people lost their lives.
Fire at the Puerto Rican Social Club in 1976
A fire swept through the Puerto Rican Social Club in the Bronx, killing 25 people and injuring 24 others who jumped from a second-floor window, the only way to escape the blaze that was set by the angry partner of an attendee.
1966 Manhattan fire
Twelve firefighters from the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) lost their lives after a floor collapsed while battling a fire in Manhattan in October 1966. It was the worst day in FDNY history until 9/11.
