Bronx building had heat complaint days before massive fire

ALLERTON, the Bronx (PIX11) – Uandie Dunkley and her daughter Karen stood in their pajamas outside a Bronx elementary school – a temporary shelter – on Friday afternoon.

It’s what they were wearing when they fled their fourth-floor apartment on Wallace Avenue in the Allerton section of the Bronx when a fire broke out overnight. Much of the top sixth floor was engulfed in flames during the five-alarm fire.

Seven people were injured as strong winds whipped up the flames.

The cause is still under investigation. Several tenants said they believed a space heater may have played a role.

New York City housing officials responded to a complaint of no heat in the building two days before the fire but confirmed it was working.

City records show dozens of complaints at the building over the last two years. 

The building’s owner, Ved Parkash, owns dozens of buildings across New York City. Ved Parkash topped the “Worst Landlord List” 10 years ago.

The company’s spokesperson provided a statement to PIX11 News on Friday: “We are withholding comment because this is an active fire investigation.”

A spokesperson for the New York City Housing, Preservation and Development also released a statement:

“Providing heat during winter isn’t just the ethical thing to do – it’s the law…If you need to use a space heater, whether you have adequate heat or not, please make sure you are following all safety guidelines.”