There is no immediate reason to believe that the owner has violated fire regulations, Mayor Eric Adams said pending a thorough investigation by the fire service. But he did mention “a wake-up call for all our buildings.” The 19-story balcony-less flat from the early 1970s is owned by an investment group, which responded with reports and pledged full cooperation.
The fire was probably caused by a broken electric heater. The residents fled without closing the door. When firefighters arrived, the entire building was already covered in smoke, which killed many of the victims.
The fire is the deadliest to hit New York in 30 years. The investigation must, among other things, show how the fire could spread so quickly. Complaints from residents about the frequent going off of false smoke alarms are also examined. As a result, people would no longer react if a real fire broke out.