An apartment fire in Manhattan left six people injured on March 20th. The early morning blaze started just after 5 AM in a business on the first floor of the building and smoke quickly spread to the apartments above. By the time FDNY arrived on scene the flames had spread throughout Omar’s Kitchen and Bakery on East 55th Street and toxic smoke was quickly filling the hallways and stairwells above. Responders worked quickly to evacuate residents of the apartment units above the bakery but several had to be treated for smoke inhalation.
Toxic fumes from burning hazardous materials can be extremely dangerous-even fatal. They are often the primary cause of life-threatening injuries in apartment fires. These fumes can quickly overcome a person, causing them to lose consciousness. Even small amounts of exposure can lead to severe respiratory damage.
While all of the victims of this particular apartment fire in Manhattan are expected to recover, had the individuals not been alerted to the fire below them in such a timely fashion, things could have been much worse.
Investigators will no doubt be searching for a cause of this apartment fire in New York City. If it’s discovered that the owner or employees of the bakery acted in an unsafe manner or contributed to the blaze via negligence, they could be held legally and financially liable for the damages suffered by the victims.
Past cases of apartment fires in New York City are shown to be caused by improperly installed (or maintained) appliances, defective utility connections, improper storage of chemicals or other flammable materials, and shoddy electrical work. If smoke alarms were not working properly or not installed, the building owner would also share in the responsibility.
If you’ve been injured in a fire that was caused by a negligent party’s unsafe behavior, you may be able to seek compensation from that individual/company or building owner. Contact an experienced apartment fire attorney in New York City to learn about the legal options available to you. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 right now.