Brooklyn House Fire Kills Six and Injures Seven in Sunset Park

A residential fire in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood killed six people and injured seven others early Thursday, November 5, 2026. The three-alarm blaze erupted around 1:40 a.m. on 58th Street, spreading through a two-story house and reaching a neighboring property, according to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).

More than 230 emergency personnel responded to the incident. Firefighters brought the flames under control after approximately three hours, while rescue teams searched the damaged building for trapped residents.

Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others died after sustaining critical injuries. The injured included four residents and three firefighters, whose injuries were described as non-life-threatening, according to officials.

Firefighters also rescued two people trapped inside behind window bars. The American Red Cross is arranging temporary hotel accommodation for eight residents displaced by the destruction.

Investigators discovered two lithium-ion batteries at the property. A hazardous materials team was dispatched, but authorities have not established whether the batteries contributed to the fire. The exact cause remains under investigation.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the disaster during a television appearance Thursday morning, emphasizing the scale of the tragedy and the work performed by emergency crews.

"We are currently tracking this fire that claimed the lives of six New Yorkers. It is devastating, and it is a reflection of a number of things. One, I want to always acknowledge the courage of our firefighters, who go in every single day, no matter what the level of danger is, looking to save peoples' lives," said Mamdani.

The mayor also highlighted the need to strengthen fire prevention measures as the city faces growing concerns about battery-related incidents.

"We are investigating what the cause of this fire is, but I can tell you that e-bike fires as a whole have increased to more than 400 fires this year [in New York City]. They are something that can cause people to lose their lives as well as their livelihoods. We are really looking at every avenue, we have to keep them safe," Mamdani added.

During another television interview, Mamdani described the incident using a brief assessment of its impact.

"devastating," Mamdani said.

He subsequently emphasized the importance of preventing further battery-related incidents in residential buildings.

"I want to always acknowledge the courage of our firefighters who go in every single day no matter what the level of danger is looking to save people's lives," Mamdani said.

The mayor also stressed the importance of public awareness surrounding battery safety.

"importance of fire safety in this time," Mamdani said.

Addressing the rising number of incidents, he reiterated the city's ongoing investigation and the scale of the e-bike fire problem.

"We are investigating what the cause of this fire, is but I can tell you that e-bike fires as a whole have increased to more than 400 fires this year and they are something that can cause people to lose their lives as well as their livelihoods," Mamdani said.

Fire officials also described the construction of the affected properties as a significant concern during the emergency response.

"row-frame. They are entirely made of wood," officials said, explaining the potential for flames to spread along the connected residential buildings.

The incident comes amid a series of deadly battery-related fires across New York City. On October 28, four members of a family, including a mother and three children, died after an electric-bike battery fire engulfed an apartment in the Bronx.

Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore previously reported that battery-related fires had killed at least six people and injured 74 others in the city this year. During the previous year, New York recorded 292 such fires, resulting in one death and 51 injuries.

The city has also expanded public education efforts to address risks associated with electric-bike and electric-scooter batteries. In 2024, authorities introduced a campaign encouraging residents not to store these batteries inside buildings.