Brooklyn fire kills six after blaze starts on second floor

Six people lost their lives in a house fire in Brooklyn early Thursday morning. The incident occurred at a residence on 58th Street in the Sunset Park neighborhood. Firefighters responded just before 1:40 a.m. to a three-alarm blaze that quickly consumed the structure. Officials stated the fire began on the second floor before spreading to the entire two-story building.

Four adults were pronounced dead at the scene. A man and a woman died during transport to the hospital. Four residents and three firefighters sustained non-life-threatening injuries. One additional victim remains in critical condition. Crews worked through the morning to extinguish hidden flames behind walls and siding. They poured water onto the heavily charred exterior as thick smoke filled the air.

Investigators found two lithium-ion batteries at the scene. They are currently determining if the batteries contributed to the start of the fire. The official cause of the blaze remains under investigation. The American Red Cross is providing temporary housing to the multiple residents displaced by the extensive damage.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the incident on television on Thursday morning. He praised the courage of the firefighters who entered the burning building. Mamdani noted that e-bike fires have increased to more than 400 cases this year. He emphasized the need for fire safety measures as the city investigates the specific cause of this tragedy.

Prior to this incident, seven people had died in lithium-ion battery fires in 2026. A fire in the Bronx last week killed four individuals, including a mother and three children. City officials continue to review data on battery-related fires to assess safety protocols.

Firefighters remained on site after bringing the main fire under control. The front of the building was heavily damaged, with much of the exterior destroyed. Investigators are working to establish the timeline of events leading up to the ignition.