Bronx fire displaces hundreds, leaves lingering questions over building conditions

NEW YORK - A devastating fire at an apartment building in the Bronx has displaced more than 250 residents and raised questions about heating conditions in the building. As residents struggle to rebuild their lives, authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze and the safety of the structure.

What we know:

The fire tore through 2910 Wallace Avenue early Friday morning, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate. 

The New York City Department of Buildings has since issued a full vacate order due to "extensive fire damage throughout the structure" and "collapsed partitions." A newly constructed sidewalk shed was installed over the weekend as a safety measure for passersby near the severely damaged six-story building.

The backstory:

Residents of the building have reported ongoing issues with heating. According to city records, 2910 Wallace Avenue has received 239 heat-related complaints in the last three years, including 11 this month. While the building’s boiler passed its most recent inspection, residents like Rita Johmpaul described living conditions as unbearably cold, potentially leading some to use space heaters.

"The building was cold," said Johmpaul. "If you were in the building, it looked like you were sleeping outside."

A representative for the building claimed there was heat, but the high number of complaints filed with the city contradicts this assertion.

The Red Cross is stepping in to provide assistance to 95 displaced families. 

"We are housing folks through local hotel networks and then providing food through delivery systems," said Eric Declercq, Disaster Action Team Supervisor for the Greater NY Chapter of the Red Cross.