Fire at Kingsbridge nursing home

Two people were hospitalized after a fire broke out at Kingsbridge Heights Rehabilitation Care Center on March 9, around 5:30 a.m. 

A spokeswoman from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) said 60 fire personnel were sent to the site at 3400-6 Cannon Place, bringing the fire under control 22 minutes later. Two individuals were treated and transported to Jacobi Hospital by FDNY-EMS, one with serious, life-threatening injuries, and another with minor injuries. 

Bruce Zarett, an administrator at KHRCC said one of the injured was a resident, while the other individual was not a resident at the center. He stated that he did not believe the resident sustained life-threatening injuries in the fire, saying he was not sure if the serious, life threatening injuries reported by FDNY were a result of the fire itself or because of preexisting medical conditions. 

He also stated that a KHRCC staff member put out the fire with an extinguisher before FDNY arrived. 

“Representatives from the fire marshal’s office did come to inspect, and stated the staff should be commended,” he said. 

Mr. Zarrett could not disclose the cause of the fire, which remains under investigation, according to the FDNY spokeswoman.