Six dead in three-alarm Sunset Park fire in wood-frame row house

What happened

A fast-growing, three-alarm fire broke out at 653 58th Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. A neighbor called the FDNY at 1:39 AM. Firefighters arrived in 3 minutes and 18 seconds and found heavy fire in the cellar and on the first and second floors. The fire was under control by 4:28 a.m. The Mayor's Office published a transcript of the press conference on 11/06/2026.

Six adults died. Four were dead when the FDNY arrived, and two died at the hospital. Four civilians were injured. Three firefighters and two police officers had minor injuries. First Deputy Commissioner Flynn said firefighters rescued four people and took them to hospitals, and two of them are still alive. Chief of Operations Kevin Woods said two occupants were trapped on the first floor in the rear behind window bars and were rescued through a rear entrance.

Woods said the building is part of a row of 25 'row frame' buildings made entirely of wood, with wood sheathing under vinyl siding. He said this kind of building burns very fast. The fire spread only to the exterior of one neighboring home. The stairs partially collapsed, and the FDNY is checking the building's structural stability. Flynn said there were some reports of people hearing smoke detectors go off.

The cause is not known. FDNY fire marshals are investigating. Mayor Mamdani said eight people from nearby buildings were displaced and placed in hotels with help from the Red Cross. He said the city is looking at short- and medium-term support for them. FDNY, NYCEM, NYPD and OCME all responded.