Sunset Park fire breaks out
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The gist
A three-alarm fire in Sunset Park, Brooklyn killed six people and injured several others early Thursday.
The cause is still under investigation, with lithium-ion batteries found at the scene.
Background
The FDNY is New York City's fire department, which responded to the blaze on 58th Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The fire broke out before dawn in a two-story residential building, escalated from two to three alarms, and spread to neighboring homes. Six people died and multiple residents were displaced, with the American Red Cross providing temporary housing. The cause remains under investigation, and fire marshals are looking at two lithium-ion batteries found at the scene.
How it unfolded
- Nov 5, 2026A three-alarm fire broke out just before 1:40 a.m. at a home on 58th Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, with flames shooting from the windows.
- Nov 5, 2026At 1:46 a.m. the fire escalated to two alarms and extended to the building next door; at 2:10 a.m. it became a three-alarm fire.
- Nov 5, 2026The main body of the fire was knocked down just before 2:40 a.m.
- Nov 5, 2026Six people died: four adults were pronounced dead at the scene, and a man and a woman died while being transported to the hospital.
- Nov 5, 2026Four residents and three firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries; another victim was reported in critical condition.
- Nov 5, 2026Around 231 fire and EMS crews responded; the Department of Buildings and the Red Cross were called, and Hazmat was requested after lithium-ion batteries were found.
Key terms
- three-alarm fire
- A fire classified as severe and hard to contain, indicating the level of response by local fire authorities.
- FDNY
- The full-service fire department responsible for fire suppression, hazardous materials response, emergency medical services and rescue in New York City.
- fire marshals
- Officials who enforce fire codes and investigate fires to determine their origin and cause.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- FDNY officials said the blaze caused an interior staircase to collapse and left occupants trapped on the upper floor, and that fire marshals are investigating lithium-ion batteries as a potential cause.
- Official
- Officials said the fire appears to have started on the second floor before spreading throughout the two-story building, and the cause remains under investigation.
- Public
- Witnesses said the fire started in the basement and quickly spread throughout the home.
- Public
- A neighbor said that by the time he ran outside the fire was rapidly spreading and he never saw anyone emerge from the primary home, recalling paramedics performing CPR on the street.
- Support
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared on a television news broadcast Thursday morning and praised the efforts of the FDNY.
Still unverified
Whether two lithium-ion batteries found at the scene played any role in the fire is unconfirmed; the cause remains under investigation. Whether the victims were trapped on the second floor when the stairs gave way is also being determined by authorities.