Hamilton Heights Fire Kills Man, 80; 54-Unit Building Evacuated

An 80-year-old man was killed and four other people were hurt, including two firefighters, when fire tore through a third-floor apartment in a six-story Hamilton Heights building early Monday, November 9. Every apartment in the 54-unit building at 660 Riverside Drive was evacuated, and fire officials said some units are too badly damaged for tenants to return.

What happened

Flames erupted a few minutes before 1:30 a.m. in a third-floor unit at the building, which sits on Riverside Drive between West 143rd and West 144th streets in Upper Manhattan. Heavy flames were pushing out of the apartment's windows when firefighters arrived, ABC7 New York reported, and the response quickly grew to two alarms. West Side Spirit reported that 141 firefighters and EMS personnel from 41 units responded and that the fire was not fully out until about 5:15 a.m.

Before it was controlled, the fire reached two adjoining units and left the stairwell damaged. Firefighters found the unit where the fire started packed with belongings. FDNY Deputy Chief Stephen Sullivan told ABC7 that possessions were stacked roughly waist- to shoulder-height in parts of the unit, conditions that make it harder for crews to move through an apartment and can feed a fire.

Neighbors described a frightening escape. A resident of the apartment directly above told 1010 WINS that people in that unit had to move a refrigerator to clear the way to the fire escape before they could get out.

Who was affected

Responders found the 80-year-old resident dead inside. Officials had not publicly identified him in initial reports. One neighbor told ABC7 he was well liked in the building.

Accounts of the injured residents differ. ABC7 reported that a 52-year-old woman who lived upstairs was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia for smoke inhalation, and that a woman who shared the apartment with him had minor injuries but refused medical care. West Side Spirit described the 52-year-old as being in critical condition, while 1010 WINS reported that two women, 52 and 74, were in stable condition at hospitals. Both injured firefighters had minor injuries and were taken for treatment.

Displacement and aid

All 54 apartments were evacuated during the fire. West Side Spirit reported that 16 people were forced out of their homes and that 44 people had applied for emergency assistance from the American Red Cross, which was helping displaced residents find temporary housing.

How long tenants will be out is not yet clear, and reports diverge. Deputy Chief Sullivan told ABC7 that some occupants should be able to move back in but that several apartments are severely damaged and cannot be reoccupied, and that the Department of Buildings would assess the structure. West Side Spirit reported that the Buildings Department had issued a full vacate order for the building. Tenants should confirm the current status of their unit with the city before planning a return.

Investigation

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Officials have not said how the fire started, though the FDNY indicated the heavy clutter in the apartment may have made it worse.

The death comes during a deadly year for fires in New York City. Citing Gothamist, West Side Spirit reported that the Hamilton Heights fire brought the city's fire deaths for 2026 to 88, compared with 45 at the same point last year.

What this means for renters

Clutter is a recurring factor in fatal apartment fires: it gives flames more to burn, blocks exits and slows firefighters searching for victims. It also puts neighbors at risk, as residents above this unit learned. Practical steps for tenants:

• Keep fire escapes and hallways clear. Never store furniture, appliances or planters on a fire escape or in front of a window that leads to one. In this fire, a blocked route cost residents precious seconds.
• Check on older neighbors. If a neighbor's unit is dangerously cluttered, building management, the city's 311 line and local aging services can help connect them with support before a crisis.
• Close the door behind you. When escaping, shutting your apartment door slows smoke and fire spread into stairwells that others need. Our guide to smoke alarms and escape plans covers the basics.
• If you are displaced, document everything. Keep receipts for hotels, meals and replacement items, and ask your landlord in writing about repairs, rent for the months you cannot live there and your right to return. Renters insurance with loss-of-use coverage can pay for temporary housing.
• Ask about city relocation help. New York City's housing agency, HPD, offers emergency housing services to tenants forced out by fires and vacate orders, and the Red Cross can provide short-term help in the first days.

For a step-by-step list of what to do in the days after a fire, see our first-72-hours checklist. Renter News will update this story as investigators release more information.