The Aftermath of the West 107th Street Fire

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A day after a massive 4-alarm fire tore through 201 West 107th Street, the scale of the devastation — and the community response — has become clearer.

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More than two dozen households have been displaced following the blaze, which broke out just before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday on the building’s top floor. The fire tore through three apartments, caused significant damage to others below, and led to a partial collapse of the roof and parapet wall. By Tuesday night, the Department of Buildings issued a full vacate order for the six-story building.

During a press briefing at the scene of the incident, FDNY Chief of Operations Kevin Woods said firefighters had established a collapse zone around the building due to fears of additional structural failure. Fire Marshals continue investigating the cause of the blaze.

According to the Red Cross, 25 households and 46 individuals have been registered for emergency assistance, including temporary lodging. Three residents and three firefighters suffered minor injuries. Here’s a statement we received from the Red Cross of Greater New York:

Our Disaster Action Team also provided care items to impacted residents, including clothes, shoes, snacks and lunch. In coming days, Red Cross caseworkers will meet with these residents to help them with recovery planning and connect them to government and/or nonprofit partners to help with longer-term recovery needs.

At this time, the reception center at Ascension Roman Catholic Church is now closed. The Red Cross is grateful to the church for their help supporting these residents with meals, clothes and coats.

Any residents who need help with their recovery and have not already connected with the Red Cross should call 1-877-RED CROSS (877-733-2767) and select Option 1.

For longtime resident Millie Marte, the loss is staggering. “No phone. No medicine. No clothes. Nothing. Nothing,” she told ABC News. Marte, who has lived in the building for 50 years, raced down the smoky hallways of the fourth floor banging on doors to warn her neighbors. “I go, ‘get out, get out, get out. There’s a fire. Get out.’”

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Many displaced tenants sought refuge at Ascension Roman Catholic Church, just a few doors away, where donations of clothing, essentials and toiletries began arriving throughout the day. Volunteers and parishioners stepped in quickly — among them Ascension Sunday School teacher Alex Ford, who brought chargers, toothbrushes and even rubber duckies for the children. “It’s my neighbors, you know, we’re community,” he told ABC. “When everything else falls apart, all we really have is each other.”

The church is also planning to donate proceeds from its upcoming Christmas concert to affected families. You can contribute here.

In addition, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched for a man and his daughter who lost their apartment in the blaze. “Geoff had lived there for decades, but they won’t be able to move back in for around two years,” the campaign page reads. So far, the organizers have raised close to $12,000 out of a $35,000 goal.

As families now pivot to temporary housing, donation efforts are expected to continue in the days ahead.

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