The Upper East Side’s 19th Police Precinct advised at 9:38am that due to a Wednesday morning fire at 1576 Second Avenue, the street between East 82nd and 83rd Streets on Second Avenue has been closed off to traffic.
🚨ADVISORY: Due to a Multiple Dwelling fire at 1576 2 Avenue, 2nd Avenue from East 82nd Street to East 83rd Street on the Upper East Side is CLOSED to traffic.
Please avoid the area, @FDNY & emergency personnel are on scene. pic.twitter.com/HEHdr4v7DE
— NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) April 21, 2021
The incident was first reported at 8:30am on Citizen App, where a video shows firefighters working to put out the flames.
Fatal Three-Alarm Fire @CitizenApp
1576 2nd Ave 8:30:41 AM EDT
The building at 1576 2nd Avenue is a four-story walkup with 6 apartments and a ground level retail space which houses Fresh Bites & Juice Bar.
Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Ajello told members of the press that at about 8:30am on Wednesday morning, a call came in reporting the fire on the second floor of the building. The first unit of the FDNY arrived within about four minutes. “Our units stretched lines, raised ladders and performed searches.”
Ajello continued to state that when the incident was elevated to a third alarm, approximately 130 firefighters and 30 units came to the scene, and it took them about an hour and thirty minutes to put out the fire. The fire was put under control at 9:54am.
There were three total injuries, including “two civilian injuries which are life threatening,” as well as one minor injury to a firefighter.
Ajello also stated that the residents of all six apartments in the building have been evacuated, and wrapped up the press release to mention that the cause of the fire is presently under investigation.
An audio recording of Ajello’s press conference can be listened to here:
UPDATE: it was later revealed that one of the victims, an 83 year old male, has been pronounced dead from his injuries. The other victim, an 81 year old male, remains in critical condition.
