Man dead, 4 hurt, including 2 firefighters, in Upper Manhattan apartment fire

Man dead, 4 hurt, including 2 firefighters, in Upper Manhattan apartment fire Phil Taitt reports that four others were injured, including two firefighters. Stringer By Eyewitness News Monday, November 9, 2026 12:05PM Share Follow abc7NY on Google HAMILTON HEIGHTS, Manhattan (WABC) -- An 80-year-old man died after a second-alarm fire ripped through a cluttered apartment in Hamilton Heights early Monday, forcing the evacuation of an entire apartment building. The fire broke out in a third-floor apartment at 660 Riverside Drive shortly before 1:30 a.m. Heavy flames shot from the windows, trapping residents as firefighters rushed to the scene. The 80-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. A 52-year-old woman was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia in stable condition. Another resident suffered minor injuries but declined medical attention. Two firefighters were hospitalized with minor injuries. Firefighters encountered extreme clutter conditions while battling the blaze. "We had heavy clutter throughout, really from waist high up to shoulder high in some spots," FDNY Deputy Chief Stephen Sullivan said. The fire spread to two neighboring apartments and damaged the building's staircase, prompting officials to evacuate all 54 apartments in the building. One neighbor said he got out of the building as soon as he realized something was wrong. "I was just going to sleep, and I started smelling something, and then the alarm started popping off, and so I didn't know what to do, so I called 911, and they told me to stay put. And then it was more smoke and more smoke, and you know this never happened here; I have been living here a few years. I had to go down the safety staircases," said Danilo, a resident of the building. The American Red Cross is helping displaced residents find temporary housing. The Department of Buildings is expected to evaluate the building's structural integrity. Sullivan said fire officials are hopeful that some residents will eventually be allowed to return to their homes. "Some occupants will be able to reoccupy the apartments," Sullivan said. "Several apartments are severely damaged and will not be able to be reoccupied." The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Man dead, 4 hurt, including 2 firefighters, in Upper Manhattan apartment fire 2 hours ago 'I'm In Deep Pain': Mother of Brooklyn jogger murder suspect speaks out Freight train crashes into garbage truck, FedEx truck also crashes in Newark 25 minutes ago ---------- * Get Eyewitness News Delivered * More Manhattan news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. Report a correction or typo Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved. Related Topics HAMILTON HEIGHTS MANHATTAN NEW YORK CITY DEADLY FIRE FIRE FATAL FIRE APARTMENT FIRE FDNY Watch Live ON NOW 'I'm In Deep Pain': Mother of jogger murder suspect speaks out Freight train crashes into garbage truck, FedEx truck also crashes 25 minutes ago Trump says 'too tough' deportation policies hurt him in the midterms 1 hour ago NYC expands Code Blue program with $25M winter investment 3 hours ago Russell Brand faces sentencing after being found guilty of rape, sexual assault 2 hours ago Man arrested in attempted rape of 83-year-old woman in Manhattan New Macy's Parade balloons take first flight AccuWeather: Breezy and cooler