Apartment fire kills 19 in New York City

Investigators say a faulty space heater sparked a fire that filled a Bronx high-rise with smoke on Sunday. At least 19 people died, including nine children. Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said more than five dozen people were hurt and 13 were hospitalized in critical condition.

What made the fire so deadly? Though the flames did not spread very far past the lower-floor unit where the fire started, the apartment’s door and the entrance to a stairwell were left open, allowing thick smoke to fill the building. Many people who attempted to escape passed out from smoke inhalation. Resident Jose Henriquez said frequent false alerts might have conditioned residents to ignore the fire alarm. The 120-unit building was constructed in the 1970s as affordable housing.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift about a deadly residential fire last week in Philadelphia.