Third Victim Found in Bronx Apartment Fire as Missing Grandmother Remains Unaccounted For

Key Takeaways

• A third body was recovered Saturday from the fire-damaged building at 374 E. 209th Street in the Bronx.
• The fire began around noon Wednesday, Aug. 5, on the second floor and destroyed all floors above it.
• One man was pronounced dead that day; a second body was removed Friday evening.
• The FDNY has not released the identities of the second and third victims.
• Three dogs were rescued from the building, and displaced residents are staying in Red Cross hotels.

Introduction

FDNY crews have recovered a third body from a Bronx apartment building that was destroyed by an explosion and fire earlier this week. The fire broke out around noon Wednesday at 374 E. 209th Street in the Norwood section, and officials are still working to identify the latest victim.

Deadly Fire and Search for a Missing Grandmother

The blaze started on the second floor and quickly consumed all of the floors above it, according to ABC7 New York. One man who lived just above the origin point was pronounced dead that day. His wife, a grandmother in her 60s, was reported missing Friday.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson said Friday that the woman remained unaccounted for. ABC7 spoke with a displaced tenant, Ellesse Falcon, who described the anguish.

"Terrible because I know her, everyone is looking for her, they're calling her, and she's not answering... It's really, really sad," Falcon said.

On Friday evening, crews removed a second body from the building. On Saturday afternoon, the FDNY said a third victim was located, a detail confirmed by CBS New York. The identities of the second and third victims have not been released.

Three dogs were rescued after firefighters heard them barking. The other displaced tenants are being put up in hotels by the Red Cross, but Falcon said she has two service animals and did not want to be separated from them, so she has been living out of her car.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The FDNY has not been able to enter the building to conduct a full search and examination, which could delay answers.

Local California Context

This incident took place in the Bronx, New York, and is not connected to San Joaquin County or Tracy. For California readers, the fire is a reminder of how quickly residential blazes can turn deadly and how important working smoke alarms and clear escape routes are in multi-story apartment buildings.

Background

Deadly residential fires in New York City have drawn renewed scrutiny to building safety and tenant protections. The FDNY's response this week included search teams, dog rescues, and support for displaced families, reflecting the standard emergency protocol for major structural fires.

Conclusion

The discovery of a third body raises the death toll from this Bronx fire and leaves a family waiting for answers. Officials are urging anyone with information about the fire to contact the FDNY. Until the investigation is complete, the full cause may not be known.

Sources and Materials

• hanfordsentinel
• abc7ny
• cbsnews