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The fire, which began around 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 at 15 Parkview Ave. in Yonkers, was started by plumbers doing welding work on the top floor of the building, said Yonkers Fire Department Assistant Chief John Bonanno.
The six-story building burned for more than 10 hours Tuesday night into Wednesday, with flare-ups still taking place, Bonanno said.
"The fire isn't over yet," he said. "We are still on the scene."
Officials said the entire sixth floor and the roof were destroyed and the rest of the building suffered heavy damage.
Many of the residents tell harrowing stories of escaping from the inferno that quickly spread causing firefighters to leave the building and attack the blaze from the outside, the fire department said.
More than 110 firefighters, 80 from Yonkers and 30 from other departments, battled the blaze, the department said.
As residents look for help from the Red Cross and other means, a restaurant located next door, the Ladle of Love, is offering free meals to any resident affected by the fire for as long as is needed. An employee said quite a few residents have taken them up on the offer. Several GoFundMe accounts have also been created to help residents.
Anyone who was displaced can call the mayor's helpline at 914-377-4357 for help.
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