Tenants Jump To Escape Flames In BK Building Owned By 'Worst Landlord'

BROWNSVILLE, NY — Two people jumped from the sixth floor of a Brownsville building to escape flames Monday afternoon, according to the FDNY.

Four people were injured — one in critical condition — after the six-story building burst into flames about 2:05 p.m. Monday on Rockaway Parkway near Winthrop Street, authorities said.

Two people were in serious condition, and a fourth person had only minor injuries, authorities said.

The cause of the fire remained unknown early Monday evening, but FDNY Department Chief Jim Carney said the intensity of the blaze raised firefighters' suspicions, according to the New York Daily News.

The building has open violations for a missing or defective smoke detector on the sixth floor and missing or defective self-closing door, the failure of which contributed to a tragic Bronx fire last year that claimed 17 lives, on the first, Buildings and Housing Preservation and Development records show.

Landlord Victor Ibanez landed on New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams' worst landlords watchlist in 2022 for four of his buildings, including the Brownsville property at 165 Rockaway Parkway.

Ibenez owned four buildings on the watchlist with 293 units and an average of 646 violations with the HPD department.

It took about an hour for 60 first responders to extinguish the blaze — but not before two people jumped for their lives. Both were transported to area hospitals.