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By: Nik Carroway
A pre-war apartment building on the Upper East Side erupted in flames Monday afternoon, leaving residents of 20 units displaced, according to officials.
The fire broke out around 12:20 p.m. on the third floor of the eight-story co-op building located at 160 East 91st Street and quickly spread to the roof, the FDNY told the New York Post. Nearly 150 firefighters responded to battle the intense blaze, which damaged approximately 20 of the building’s 125 apartments.
“This was a labor-intensive fire,” FDNY Assistant Chief John Sarrocco explained to the New York Post. “We stretched multiple hand lines into the building and had to pull ceilings and open walls on every floor to fully extinguish the fire.”
The New York Post reported that one resident, who was not home when the fire erupted, returned to find her apartment destroyed. “I lost everything,” she told the outlet. “I’m kind of overwhelmed right now … I’m displaced and homeless.”
In a memo obtained by the New York Post, the building’s co-op board informed residents that the FDNY, insurance adjusters, and cleanup crews were working to make the common areas safe for unaffected tenants to return. Twelve units suffered extensive fire damage, while others experienced significant water damage, the memo said.
The New York Post reported that the fire erupted on the side of the building that borders the Redeemer Presbyterian Church East Side, which had previously been at the center of a legal dispute with the co-op’s residents. In 2023, residents fought against the church’s construction plans, arguing that a proposed three-foot gap between the buildings would compromise light, ventilation, and fire escape safety. Despite their protests, the church proceeded with its plans, stating that the new structure complied with fire codes.
FDNY officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire, but the New York Post noted that the flames appeared to originate from the side facing the church.
\The New York Post reported that while no residents or staff were injured in the blaze, one firefighter sustained minor injuries. The Redeemer Presbyterian Church welcomed about a dozen displaced residents into its building for dinner and facilitated their meeting with the Red Cross, which has registered five households for emergency assistance, including temporary lodging and monetary aid.
Many affected residents have also turned to friends and family for help, the New York Post added.
This fire marks yet another chapter in the tumultuous history of 160 East 91st Street. As the New York Post pointed out, the building became a symbol of resistance in 2023 when residents fought against the Redeemer church’s development plans. Now, with dozens displaced and the cause of the blaze under investigation, the community faces the daunting task of recovery.
As cleanup efforts continue, the New York Post will remain at the forefront, providing updates on this developing story.
