New York fire victims include soldier who rescued others

By

The Associated Press

The outside of an apartment where a fire took place is seen in New York City on Dec. 29, 2017. Among the fire’s victims was Army Pvt. Emmanuel Mensah, who had saved several residents. (Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images)

NEW YORK — The victims of New York City’s deadliest fire in decades include a man who immigrated to the Bronx from Ghana and dreamed of becoming a military policeman.

A relative tells The New York Times that Emmanuel Mensah had rescued a number of people then went back into the burning building, where he died of smoke inhalation.

Twum Bredu says Mensah had joined the Army National Guard and recently graduated from boot camp.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro says the fire that killed a dozen people on Thursday night started on a stove and raced through a door and up five floors.