Six dead, nine injured in early-morning Brooklyn house fire

Six people died and nine others were injured, including three firefighters and two police officers with minor injuries, in a fire that tore through a two-story home in Brooklyn's Sunset Park early Thursday (November 5), New York City's fire department said. More than 200 firefighters responded, and the blaze was brought under control in about three hours. The cause is under investigation and the victims' names and ages have not been released. (Photo: frame from CBS News New York coverage of the burning home.)

Four dead at the scene; two more died in hospital

Four people died at the scene, the fire department said in a statement. Two people with critical injuries were taken to hospital, where they were later pronounced dead; four others suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries. A lithium-ion battery was found at the scene, but it was unknown whether it was related to the cause of the fire, the department said.

More than 200 responders; fire controlled in about three hours

Heavy fire was reported in the row-frame building at 1:40 a.m., the Associated Press reported. Fire marshals are investigating.

(Sources: Associated Press / FDNY, November 5, 2026. Victims' identities and the cause of the fire are pending official confirmation.)

November 5 update: nine injured; mayor says he is heartbroken

The Associated Press has updated the injury toll to nine: four civilians, three firefighters and two police officers, all of whom are expected to survive. The fire broke out at 653 58th Street, a two-story row house in Sunset Park, and was reported just before 1:40 a.m.; it was brought under control in about three hours. Four people died at the scene and two more died in hospital; all six victims were adults. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on television on Thursday morning: "I am heartbroken to announce that six New Yorkers lost their lives." Eight neighbours were displaced and taken to hotels, with the American Red Cross assisting them. The home was built in 1915. A lithium-ion battery was found at the scene, but it is still unknown whether it was related to the cause, which remains under investigation. The victims' names and ages have not been released. (Updated November 5, 2026. Sources: Associated Press / FDNY.)

November 5 evening update: two lithium-ion batteries found at the scene

Fire marshals found two lithium-ion batteries at the scene, along with the burnt-out remains of an e-bike and a scooter, and are investigating whether the batteries played any role in the fire; the FDNY stressed the cause remains undetermined. Mayor Mamdani noted lithium-ion battery fires in the city have topped 400 this year. The victims' identities have still not been released. (Sources: Associated Press / FDNY / Streetsblog, November 5, 2026.)

November 7 update: inspectors turned away repeatedly; council sets emergency hearing for November 20

Investigators are now examining whether the home had been illegally subdivided. Department of Buildings records show three complaints alleging illegal construction: the basement had been converted into an apartment, and units on the first and second floors had each been divided into three apartments. Inspectors visited the property in September and October 2025 and again in February and August 2026, but closed the cases after no one answered the door; the department says inspectors have no authority to force entry. At least 11 people lived in the home. City Council Speaker Julie Menin has announced a joint oversight emergency hearing on November 20 to examine residential fire safety and lithium-ion battery storage rules. The cause of the fire remains undetermined, and whether the batteries or any illegal subdivision contributed to the deaths has not been established; the victims have still not been identified. (Sources: New York City Council; WABC; TBS News.)