4 hospitalized, including 98-year-old woman, after fire breaks out in Washington Heights apartment

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, Manhattan (WABC) — 4 folks had been taken to the hospital after a fireplace broke out inside an residence in Washington Heights.

It occurred Sunday at 565 West one hundred and ninetieth Road simply earlier than 1 p.m. Firefighters had been on the scene inside three minutes of the 911 name and had the fireplace out inside an hour.

What’s left of a broken scooter continues to be on the scene, nevertheless, the battery was eliminated to see if it was what began the fireplace. Firefighters have since decided it was not what began it — but it surely did catch hearth – and they’re reminding folks about lithium-ion battery security anyway.

There may be smoke and water injury in a number of residences and the hallways, however the hearth injury was contained to 1 fourth-floor residence.

Witnesses describe black smoke pouring from the fourth-floor window that firefighters needed to break, sending the air conditioner crashing to the road under.

Neighbors are fearful in regards to the folks in that residence – all 4 residents had been taken to the hospital the place they’re in vital situation. All of the victims are adults, however one, specifically, has neighbors very involved – a 98-year-old girl who has lived within the constructing for no less than 40 years. She is sort of a grandmother determine to lots of the neighbors who grew up together with her.

“We name her ‘Mamita.’ They introduced her within the ambulance. Everybody’s fearful and we hope that they are okay,” mentioned Valery Tabares.

“There was an e-bike within the residence. The hearth marshals will decide whether or not it was the trigger, concerned, or simply there. We do not know right now, however there was an e-bike,” mentioned FDNY Chief Brian Gorman.

The e-bike appears extra like a scooter and wasn’t charred utterly, as officers have seen in different battery fires. It’s not clear who the e-bike belonged to.

Neighbors say the 4 folks in that residence had been that 98-year-old girl, her house well being aide, and two males, one believed to be somebody who rents a room in that residence.

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