Two-alarm fire at Kingsbridge Avenue building sends residents fleeing, 15 injured

Updated 3/26/26.

Flames tore through a third-floor apartment at 3410 Kingsbridge Ave. March 17, sending thick smoke billowing from upper-story windows as residents fled into the courtyard.

The call came in at about 3 p.m., reporting a fire on the third floor of the multiple-unit dwelling. Within minutes, the situation escalated to a two alarm blaze, drawing 46 units and 141 firefighters and EMS personnel to the scene. The flames were brought under control just after 4 p.m., according to the New York City Fire Department.

Fire officials said 15 civilians suffered minor injuries and were transported to area hospitals. At least one person was rescued from a window using a ladder as smoke and flames spread upward through the building.

The fire began on the third floor before quickly extending to the fourth and fifth floors, intensifying the emergency response and prompting evacuations throughout the building.

Residents lingered in the courtyard, where scenes of panic and relief unfolded. One mother ran to the building in tears, embracing her baby who was brought to safety by its aunt. Others, many with tears in their eyes, clutched children and pets.

Tenant Richard Gomez described the moment the fire broke out as chaotic and fast-moving. He lives on the first floor, directly two floors below the apartment where the flames erupted.

“As soon as I got out from my room, yeah, I immediately started smelling the smoke,” said Gomez.

As conditions worsened, neighbors began knocking on doors to warn others.

“As soon as the neighbors knocked on my door, that’s when I started to get down here,” said Gomez, adding that when he reached the outside, he saw flames coming out of the building’s windows

Another resident, John D’Arconte, said he initially did not realize how severe the fire was because he was on the opposite side of the building.

“I just felt a lot of smoke, I heard a lot of yelling, and before I knew it there was a lot of firemen in the courtyard bringing up hoses,” said D’Arconte, a resident of more than a decade.

Firefighters broke windows and worked from the courtyard to ventilate the building, he said, as the scale of the fire became clear.

“But I had no idea that the fire was raging on this side,” said D’Arconte. “We’ve never had anything like this.”

Across the street, Deborah Montesinos, who lives in a neighboring building, said the fire appeared to intensify within moments.

“I heard a pop. And I just thought, okay, nothing,” she said. “And then I opened my door again, and [the smoke] was getting thicker.”

The fire also triggered a large-scale response involving children from a day care located in the building. Parents and tenants said well over a dozen young children were inside and had to be rescued by firefighters.

Those children were brought across the street to MyUnique Thrift Store, where the store manager, Abdulai Bah, said they waited for their parents to arrive.

“The fire department came… and they brought them in the store, and they are just taking care of them,” he said.

Bah said there were about a dozen children, and estimated they were between 1 and 2 years old.

“Some of the parents look traumatized, but they look like they’re fine,” he said.

Staff reporter Olivia Young contributed to this report.