New York City hunts for answers after deadliest fire in over 25 years
A first-floor apartment in the Bronx building where 12 people died as fire swept through Thursday night had defective carbon monoxide and smoke detectors months ago, according to a city agency.
Authorities say the fire started on the first floor, but it's unclear whether it was in the apartment with the faulty detectors. Reports of the defective smoke and carbon monoxide detectors remain open, and it's unclear whether the devices had been replaced.
Mayor Bill de Blasio told CNN the apartment building is believed to be more than a 100 years old. De Blasio called the deadly fire that broke there the "worst fire tragedy in this city in at least a quarter century."
The victims, ranging in age from 1 to 63, died on various floors as smoke and flames tore through the 29-unit apartment building.
At least four of the victims were children. Three were under the age of 10.
Details about the deadly fire -- including the cause -- remain unclear. Here's what we know:
• A 1-year-old, a 2-year-old and a 7-year-old are among those killed, according to the NYPD. The age of the fourth child has not been released.
• Seven civilians and seven firefighters were injured in the fire, FDNY spokesperson said. Four injured civilians are in critical condition.
• According to the New York City Housing Preservation and Development online records, there is at least one still-open violation reported in August of this year for the building, indicating there was a defective carbon monoxide detector in a first-floor apartment, and one open violation indicating a defective smoke detector in the same apartment.
• Four people were critically injured and others were hurt, the mayor said. He added that it's possible that "we may lose others as well.
• "This will rank as one of the worst losses of life to a fire in many, many years," de Blasio said in a Thursday press conference.