On September 27th, a fire broke out in an old building in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Fortunately, due to the early morning timing of the incident, there were no reports of major casualties, but the ground-floor businesses suffered heavy losses. The Chinatown BID, a community organization, expressed sadness over the incident and issued fire prevention tips for residents to enhance daily disaster preparedness. Council Member Christopher Marte offered contact information to assist affected residents in handling post-disaster matters.
According to Citizen News, at 3:52 am on the 27th, a fire was reported at the intersection of Grand St and Chrystie St. The fire department arrived at 3:53 am at 253 Grand St where several businesses, including a supermarket on the ground floor, were engulfed in flames that spread to the second floor. Multiple fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, the area was cordoned off, and firefighters used water hoses to extinguish the fire on the second floor, ultimately bringing it under control.
The damaged building, a 7-story structure built in 1901 with mixed residential and commercial use, had external fire escapes, classifying it as a high-risk fire building. The fire caused damage to the “Seatail Supermarket” on the ground floor, with its shutter burnt down, along with a bedding store facing Chrystie St. Additionally, two windows on the second and third floors facing Grand St were charred, and one window was shattered, through which firefighters sprayed water to extinguish the flames. The following day, debris from the damaged windows littered the building’s exterior.
The fire occurred after the supermarket closed, resulting in no major casualties, although three individuals sustained minor injuries. The cause of the fire has not been officially announced by the police, but some members of the public suspect it may have been started by vagrants.
Council Member Marte issued a statement expressing concern for the unfortunate businesses, enterprises, and residents affected by the fire, thanking the swift response of the New York City Fire Department in controlling the fire and ensuring safety. He pledged close collaboration with the Fire Department and the Department of Buildings regarding evaluation, safety inspections, and reconstruction to provide necessary support. Residents seeking assistance can contact his office at 65 East Broadway, New York, NY 10002.
Wellington Chen, the Executive Director of Chinatown BID, also expressed deep sorrow over the fire. He noted the challenges posed by the aging infrastructure of Chinatown’s buildings, making evacuation difficult in case of emergencies. Despite efforts to conduct disaster preparedness seminars in the past, circumstances leading to tragedies like this fire are difficult to avoid.
To prevent further harm from fires, Chen offered several tips for residents living in older buildings in Chinatown:
Firstly, residents should be aware that buildings with external fire escapes are not entirely safe. Due to their open layout, fires and smoke can spread rapidly between rooms and floors in case of fire, posing serious risks to inhabitants.
Secondly, tenants should ensure that smoke detectors are installed in every room by landlords to promptly detect and react to emergencies for a quick evacuation.
Additionally, devices such as electric bikes and scooters with lithium batteries are highly flammable and should not be kept indoors. Even storing them in hallways can be hazardous due to the risk of combustion.
Chen advised that post-fire building repairs typically take a long time. He recommended that affected businesses file insurance claims and reach out to the NYC Small Business Services Commissioner to assess eligibility for disaster relief assistance.