A fire in the Bronx Apartment located at 333 E. 181st St. began around 11 a.m. on January 9 and killed a confirmed 19 people, making it the deadliest New York City fire in decades. The fire started growing after an electric space heater sparked a fire in a duplex unit, flooding the 19-story apartment building with smoke. Fire officials said that the smoke was able to spread because the door of the apartment with the space heater and the door from the stairwell to the 15th floor were left open, even though the doors were supposed to close automatically.

The victims, including a 2-year-old, died of smoke inhalation: Fatoumata Drammeh, 50, female; Foutmala Drammeh, 21, female; Muhammed Drammeh, 12, male; Nyumaaisha Drammeh, 19, female; Haji Dukary, 49, male; Fatoumata Dukureh, 5, female; Haja Dukureh, 37, female; Mariam Dukureh, 11, female; Mustapha Dukureh, 12, male; Omar Jambang, 6, male; Sera Janneh, 27, female; Haouwa Mahamadou, 5, female; Seydou Toure, 12, male; Fatoumata Tunkara, 43, female; Isatou Jabbie, 31, female; Hagi Jawara, 47, male; Ousmane Konteh, 2, male.

In response to the news the Pelham Picture House collected donations for the victims of the deadly Bronx fire. Donations arrived at the Picture House, with volunteers driving each load of donations to the American Red Cross located at P.S. 391 at 2190 Folin Street. Donations accepted consisted of pillows, blankets, bottled water and canned foods.