{"id":47889,"date":"2018-01-02T23:49:01","date_gmt":"2018-01-02T23:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/01\/02\/soldier-saves-four-before-perishing-in-massive-new-york-apartment-fire\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:01:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:01:30","slug":"soldier-saves-four-before-perishing-in-massive-new-york-apartment-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2018\/01\/02\/soldier-saves-four-before-perishing-in-massive-new-york-apartment-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"Soldier saves four before perishing in massive New York apartment fire"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A New York Army National Guard soldier died after saving four others in a massive apartment fire in the Bronx borough of New York City on Dec. 28, the Army confirmed<\/a> Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah, 28, is credited with returning to the burning building three times to rescue family and other residents, before ultimately succumbing to the flames as well, according to detectives assigned to the New York Police Department\u2019s 48th Precinct.
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In the aftermath, New York City Mayor William DeBlasio praised Mensah, who was born in Ghana but was a permanent legal resident of the United States.
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\u201cPrivate Emmanuel Mensah was a first generation immigrant, a soldier, and a New Yorker. He gave his life rescuing his neighbors in the Bronx fire. His heroism exemplifies the best of our city. Rest in peace,\u201d DeBlasio wrote on Twitter.
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The New York Fire Department responded to the five-alarm fire in a little over three minutes, according to the department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When first responders were finally able to breach the building, they found Mensah\u2019s remains. Based on the position of his body, he was still working to rescue people, according to statements provided to the New York Army National Guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mensah had previously lived in the building and was visiting home after completing military training in Virginia, the Army said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fire department investigation concluded that the blaze was started by a child playing with a gas stove. After the child\u2019s family escaped their apartment, they failed to close their apartment door behind them, allowing the fire to spread at an abnormal rate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe fire quickly spread up the stairs,\u201d said Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro in a statement. \u201cThe stairway acted like a chimney. It took the fire so quickly upstairs that people had very little time to react. They couldn\u2019t get back down the stairs. Of those that tried, a few of them perished. Others were helped out onto the fire escapes, taken down by our members.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local news outlets are reporting that at least 12 New York City residents died in the fire, which started sometime after 6:30 p.m. Dec. 28.
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