New York City Fire Injures Nine

On Thursday August 12, 2014, a fire engulfed an East Harlem residence in the early morning. According to FDNY officials, the flames erupted on the fourth floor of the building located at 29 E. 104th St. Residents stated that the flames continued to spread through the fifth and sixth floor hallways.

In total the unexpected fire injured 9 residents and firefighters. Fortunately, however, the victims were transported to nearby hospitals and were treated for minor, non-life threatening injuries.

An investigation is still pending as to what the cause of the fire was. According to Health.ny.gov some of the leading causes of fires in New York residences include: cooking equipment, heating equipment, and Electrical malfunctions.

New York residents can decrease their chance of a fire outbreak by:

• Remaining in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food;
• Avoiding overloading outlets, which means plugging only one high-wattage appliance into an electrical outlet at a time;
• Keeping all flammable materials at least three feet away from heating sources.

Experiencing a fire is a traumatic life changing event that can leave you physically injured, displaced, or emotionally scared. Many precious and valuable items can also be lost due to an unexpected outbreak of flames. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a fire, you may be eligible to receive damages for your injuries, lost wages, pain & suffering, and much more. Contact a skilled personal injury attorney at Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP for more information.

Additionally, for more information on fire prevention safety techniques, please visit health.ny.gov.