A fire broke out at the residential building located at 6201 12th Avenue in Brooklyn yesterday (January 28th), leaving several families displaced and multiple residents injured, some of whom were taken to the hospital. New York State Senator Chen Xueli’s office, Council Member Zhuang Wenyi’s office, as well as local leaders Xie Xiaoqiong and He Lining, quickly stepped in to assist the affected residents.
According to reports, a total of 8 people were injured in the fire, with one resident in their 40s experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest and requiring urgent medical treatment. It was reported that some windows were sealed shut with iron bars and locks, causing at least 4 victims to be unable to escape to the fire escape. Firefighters had to brave through rooms consumed by flames to rescue trapped residents inside the building.
Chen Xueli’s deputy chief of staff Liu Yaming and community outreach liaison Raymond Morales were on-site immediately coordinating emergency shelter services and providing translation support. Chen Xueli stated that the priority was to ensure that families received the necessary resources during the crisis. He expressed gratitude to the fire department, the Red Cross, and all emergency responders for their swift and coordinated efforts, and urged residents to attend a fire safety seminar hosted by the Salvation Army on January 30th at 7307 18th Avenue.
Zhuang Wenyi mentioned that she was informed of the fire incident while en route to City Hall and immediately contacted district leaders Xie Xiaoqiong and He Lining to go to the scene. The two leaders worked tirelessly to communicate with the families of critically injured individuals and planned to collaborate with the fire department to initiate fire safety awareness activities in the district. Xie Xiaoqiong emphasized the need to eliminate language barriers to ensure that victims received necessary resources, while He Lining pledged full assistance to every affected resident. He expressed relief that most residents only sustained minor injuries but expressed deep concern upon learning that some were in critical condition.
Local resident Queenie pointed out that there appeared to be illegal alterations on the ground floor of the building, with exterior iron gates and window grilles locked, increasing the difficulty of escape. She noted that grilles should be installed on the inside of the structure, rather than blocking external exits. According to guidelines from 311 and the City Health Department, for residential buildings with three or more units housing children under 10, all non-emergency exit windows must have city-approved window guards installed; however, they should not be placed on windows leading to fire exits.
The cause of the fire and whether the building was in violation of regulations are still under investigation by the relevant authorities.