New York City investigators believe Bronx fire that killed 12 caused by child playing with stove, says mayor
An unattended three-year-old boy accidentally started the blaze, fire commissioner Daniel Nigro said.
As the child’s mother fled, she left the door open, allowing the fire to enter the hallway, he added.
The stairway had then “acted like a chimney” allowing the fire to spread rapidly upwards.
The fire on Thursday night was the deadliest in the city for at least 25 years, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Police said that among the dead were three girls, aged one, two and seven, and a boy who had not yet been identified.
Officials have not yet released the names of any of the victims. Five victims were declared dead at the scene.
At least 20 people were rescued from fire escapes and another 12 were brought out of the building.
More than 170 firefighters helped bring the blaze under control in below-freezing weather conditions.
