Fire at Strand Condominium on 43rd St, Manhattan Kills One, Injures One in Stairwell of 41-Story Tower


Video of high-rise fire with fire blowing out windows at the 41-story Strand Condominium on West 43rd Street near 10th Avenue.

FDNY firefighters responded about 10:15 a.m. Sunday, January 5, 2014 to a high-rise condominium fire at 500 West 43rd Street in Manhattan. The fire was a 3RD-ALARM FIRE.

Married couple Daniel McClung, 27, and Michael Cohen, 32, tried to escape the Strand Condominium on W. 43rd St., off 10th Ave, after the fire erupted on a 20th floor condo on Sunday morning. Daniel McClung died in hospital. Michael Cohen suffered smoke inhalation and remains in hospital.

The building’s three elevators were grounded by the FDNY for safety reasons, such as an elevator door accidentally opening on the fire floor. Residents reported there were inadequate instructions on what to do during the fire. In high-rise fires, not directly connected to the fire floor or fire unit, residents are often most safe by staying inside their units. Firefighters believe the that McClung and Cohen may have originally been safe inside their condo apartment, but became endangered when they were overcome in a smoke-filled stairwell while trying to escape.

Man dead, husband critically injured in luxury condo fire on the 20th floor.


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