Six killed in Brooklyn row-house fire; two lithium-ion batteries found, cause not yet determined

Six people died in a fast-moving fire at a two-story wood row house on 58th Street near Seventh Avenue in Brooklyn's Sunset Park early Thursday, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) said. The Associated Press and the New York Daily News both report six dead, and the BBC does too. Mayor Zohran Mamdani called it an "intense, fast-growing, three-alarm fire," and the Daily News reported it was the deadliest in the city this year.

What officials have said

The fire was reported at about 1:39 AM. FDNY Chief of Operations Kevin Woods said crews arrived to "fire on every floor," with flames "blowing out every window." Per AP, firefighters got in through a rear entrance and rescued four people, including two trapped behind window bars, and a staircase partly collapsed. About 231 FDNY members brought it under control in just under three hours, the Daily News reported. The fire reached the exterior of one neighboring house in a block of 25 wood-frame homes, and eight neighbors were displaced and put up in hotels, AP said.

Four adults were found dead inside, and a man and a woman in their 50s died at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn after being pulled out in cardiac arrest, the Daily News reported. Names have not been released. The outlets differ slightly on injuries: AP says nine people were hurt, including three firefighters and two police officers with minor injuries, who were expected to survive; the Daily News says four residents were hurt, one seriously.

The battery question

The cause is under investigation by FDNY fire marshals. AP reports a lithium-ion battery was found at the scene; the Daily News says two were found, along with what appeared to be a bicycle and a stand-up scooter. Officials said it is not yet clear whether any of them started the fire, and we are not suggesting they did.

The Daily News also noted a separate Oct. 28 fire in a Bronx apartment in which four family members died after, fire officials said, a lithium-ion battery exploded while an e-bike was charging next to the door, the family's only way out.

Building complaints

According to the Daily News, complaints filed with the Department of Buildings on Aug. 30, 2025 alleged an unpermitted conversion of the basement into an apartment and illegal conversions on the floors above. A second complaint three days later said work had run for a month without permits. The complaints appear to have been closed after inspectors twice failed to gain access. Investigators have not said whether the conversions had anything to do with the fire.

What to do

• Alarms and exits. Test smoke alarms monthly and keep two ways out of every room. Window bars can trap people; ask your landlord about release mechanisms.
• Charging. As a general precaution, charge e-bike and scooter batteries with the maker's charger, awake, and away from the door you would use to escape. FDNY publishes its own guidance at nyc.gov/fdny.
• Insurance. Renters policies typically cover belongings and temporary housing after a fire, though terms vary, and the building owner carries separate coverage. Read your policy now rather than after a loss.
• Unpermitted units. Tenants can report concerns to the city by calling 311.

AP cites the U.S. Fire Administration figure of 1,555 deaths in home fires nationally so far this year. We will update this story when FDNY releases a cause or names the victims.

Sources: The Associated Press, New York Daily News and BBC (all Nov. 5, 2026). Counts may change as officials update them.