New York City marks 1 year since Bronx high-rise fire that killed 17, including 8 children
NEW YORK -- Monday marked one year since a high-rise fire claimed more than two dozen lives in the Bronx.
Survivors gathered at a vigil to honor the victims, most of them immigrants from West African nations.
It was a cold, brisk morning much like Monday, when tragedy struck Twin Parks. A fire, caused by a space heater, killed 17 people, including five of Haji Dukuray's family members.
A year later, the pain is still unbearable.
"I have never touched a lifeless person in my life, and I have to tell you placing my 5-year-old grand-niece in the grave was probably the hardest thing in my life. And I don't want anyone else to feel that," Dukuray said.
A long line of dignitaries comforted families inside a local mosque Monday before attending an official remembrance ceremony.
Yosupha Jawara lost his brother and sister-in-law and is still trying to bring their four children in The Gambia back home.
"We would love to have them over here for the anniversary. Unfortunately, they are supposed to come with escort, but we are having issue with visa," Jawara said.
- Photo Gallery: On the scene of deadly fire at Bronx apartment building
While mourning, the community has also fought for tremendous change. Last spring, the City Council voted on a package of bills strengthening enforcement and education.
They include:
- Shortening the timeline of re-inspection for self-closing door violations
- Increasing fines for landlords
- Requiring fire safety outreach.
"[There] is no reason like this fire should have taken so many lives. This is all because of a system that has been set up to fail people in underserved areas," said Salim Drammeh, president of the Gambian Youth Organization.
Monday's ceremony ended with the renaming of a street 17 Abdoulie Touray Way. The 17 represents the number of lives lost, and Touray was the first Gambian to move into Twin Parks and helped others establish roots.
"He was a visionary. I remember him encouraging me to get an education and to consider the United States home," Dukuray said.
A man who helped build a community that is now fighting to make sure those 17 lives are never forgotten.
Last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation improving the safety of space heaters, making sure they are equipped with features like thermostats and automatic shut off.
Congressman Ritchie Torres was among several lawmakers working toward solutions for the city.
"Just like every apartment has a fire alarm and a smoke alarm, every apartment in New York City should have a heat sensor," he said following the fire. "The lack of heat and hot water causes tenants to resort to the use of these space heaters out of desperation."
Today marks one year since the fire at Twin Parks. I remember that dark day all too well. The tragedy. The heartbreak.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 9, 2023
But I also remember a community and a city coming together as one.
Those we lost live on in our hearts everyday. And their loss will not be in vain. pic.twitter.com/CUx3igBEwK
Mayor Eric Adams has also ordered flags to be flown at half staff Monday.
"One year ago, a devastating fire took the lives of 17 people in the Bronx at the Twin Parks apartment complex. On that day, our city lost 17 of our neighbors and friends - they were our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers, our children and spouses," the mayor said in a statement. "Since that day, our city has passed critical legislation to educate and protect New Yorkers from fires to help prevent another tragedy. Today, we honor and remember the lives lost."
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson also put out a statement:
"Today marks the 1 year anniversary of the horrific Twin Parks North West 5-Alarm fire that claimed the lives of 17 of our neighbors the morning of Jan. 9, 2022. While we continue to mourn those we lost on that tragic day, we must also never forget our shared responsibility to ensure our residents are safe from catastrophic fires of this magnitude. I want to thank the first responders, city agencies, community organizations, and everyone else who stepped up to support our neighbors, as well as my colleagues in government, for their partnership in passing meaningful legislation to address the root causes of these residential fires.
"Jan. 9 will always be a time of mourning and remembrance for our borough and we ask that Bronxites continue to keep the loved ones of those we lost in your heart and prayers during this time."