1:49 p.m. ET, January 10, 2022
Federal, state and local leaders announce task force to examine Bronx fire
From CNN's Taylor Romine
Emergency personnel work at the scene of a fatal fire at an apartment building in the Bronx on Sunday.
(Yuki Iwamura/AP)
A group of federal, state and local leaders announced they are forming a task force to examine what policy failures might have contributed
to Sunday’s Bronx apartment fire, and said that they will guarantee all victims get services and housing.
Leaders, including New York Rep. Ritchie Torres, who represents the 15th congressional district which covers most of the South Bronx, said they would focus specifically on policies and potential legislation on the safety of space heaters, which city officials cited as the source of the fire. They will also look into enforcement of self-closing doors, which is already required in New York City, they said.
Torres was joined by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and local city council members Oswald Feliz and Pierina Sanchez to announce the initiative on Monday.
At least 17 people died, including eight children, and dozens injured, according to updated numbers from the city.
The focus on legislation is one part of a four-prong plan by leaders, which also includes ensuring permanent housing for the units destroyed, that those displaced in the short term can return to their units as soon as possible and provide any services needed for those affected.
The landlord has offered to pay for 140 hotel rooms for all those who are displaced, and is also offering some housing unit alternatives at other properties to families whose unit is no longer habitable, said Torres. He also said other landlords have also offered up housing options as well.
Officials are working with local agencies to help displaced families in the short-term to get them back into their homes as soon as possible, which might be as early as this afternoon, Gibson added.
A distribution center is also operating at Monroe College in the Bronx, where services and resources will be available to those affected, according to Torres.
All leaders thanked first responders for quickly arriving and helping those at the scene, and also thanked New Yorkers for the outpouring of support to help the fire victims.