By Serin Sarsour
Disaster struck on Jan. 9 when a malfunctioning electric space heater sparked a fire in a 19-story apartment building in the Bronx called Twin Parks North West, leaving 17 people dead. Although the space heater that had been left operating for a few days in a bedroom on the third floor caused the fire, many Brooklyn College students believe others should be held accountable.
“The landlord of the building is to blame for the fire,” said BC sophomore Geoffery Valenzuela. “There were numerous complaints from renters of the building about lack of heat, and management brushed it off up until the day of the fire, which in return makes the owner of the building completely at fault for not listening and not keeping up maintenance.”
Many tenants throughout the last few years reported their apartments were not supplied with heat, some of their ventilation systems were damaged, and they had faulty radiators, according to BuzzFeed News. The tenants continued to submit reports, though nothing was done about their heating needs, leaving many to use appliances, such as space heaters, to keep warm.
Kristen Valdes, a junior at BC, believes NYC officials must improve the conditions of apartment buildings, especially in areas stricken by poverty, to prevent any future fires and other safety hazards.
“I think NYC buildings should have yearly examinations to see whether or not it is a livable building. Most NYC buildings are decades, possibly even centuries old, so it is important to see if it is up to date with new technologies so people can live without worrying about house fires,” Valdes said.
All of the victims, including eight children, died of smoke inhalation after the front door of the apartment in which the space heater was located did not close, another safety hazard induced by the state of the building.
A mass funeral was held for all but two of the victims on Jan. 16. Since most of the victims were Muslim and West African, the majority being Gambian, they were mourned at a mosque called the Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx.
“The families affected by the fire should be reimbursed and given a better place to stay, like in a building with proper safety and health conditions,” said a BC junior named Sanaa Bhatti.
Bronx Community College partnered with Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Congressman Richie Torres, NYC Council Member Sanchez, NYS Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia, and NYC Council Member Feliz to collect donations to help support the families impacted by the fire. The collected items consisted of canned goods, cleaning products or personal hygiene products, water, gift cards, batteries, and flashlights.
Additionally, rapper, Bronx native, and CUNY alumna Cardi B offered to pay the costs for the fire victims’ funerals, according to CNN.
“NYC landlords must ensure the tenants are content with the quality of life of their living conditions,” Valdes said.