A significant two-alarm fire broke out at the 100 John Street Manhattan building on Saturday afternoon, approximately at 2:15 PM, sending plumes of smoke from the upper floors of the 29-story residential tower. While thankfully no injuries were reported, the incident sparked outrage and concern among residents who claim the building’s fire alarms failed to activate, leaving them unaware of the escalating danger.
Barbara Owlasluk, a 26-year-old resident living on the 27th floor of 100 John Street Manhattan, four stories above the fire’s origin, recounted her terrifying experience. “I went out to my balcony after my roommate told me to evacuate,” she stated. “Not a single fire alarm went off. No smoke detector, nothing. And our entire floor was filled with smoke.” This alarming account underscores the residents’ claims of a widespread alarm system failure during the 100 John Street Manhattan fire.
Brittney, a resident from the 16th floor of 100 John Street Manhattan, who was visibly shaken across the street from the damaged building, echoed this sentiment. “There was no fire alarm. We found out by chance,” she explained, declining to provide her last name. “We were heading out to get food when I suddenly felt light-headed. In the elevator, we overheard walkie-talkie chatter, and upon attempting to use the stairwell, we found it flooded. The other stairwell was also inaccessible due to people saying the building was on fire.” This highlights the chaotic evacuation at 100 John Street Manhattan due to the alleged lack of alarms.
Nicole Riccardi, another 27th-floor resident of 100 John Street Manhattan, was alerted to the fire by a neighbor across the street. She mentioned seeing flames on a balcony below hers. Taylor Pratt, residing on the 21st floor, directly beneath the fire’s location at 100 John Street Manhattan, only became aware of the emergency when his roommate called from downstairs. “I didn’t see any smoke or smell anything either,” Pratt added, further reinforcing the residents’ accounts of lacking any fire warnings within 100 John Street Manhattan.
Battalion Chief Thomas Haughty, speaking at the scene of the 100 John Street Manhattan incident, indicated that the fire is believed to have originated on the 23rd floor. “It is thought to have spread downwards to the 22nd-floor balcony and then entered the 24th-floor windows, but the main containment was on the 23rd floor,” he detailed. Chief Haughty also confirmed that the cause of the fire at 100 John Street Manhattan is currently under investigation.
An FDNY spokesperson confirmed that no injuries resulted from the 100 John Street Manhattan fire. “Some individuals reported smoke inhalation and were evaluated,” Chief Haughty stated, indicating the potential health risks despite the absence of serious injuries. The FDNY reported that a total of 135 firefighters were dispatched to 100 John Street Manhattan, and it took them 53 minutes to successfully control the two-alarm blaze.
When contacted on Monday morning, a representative from the property manager’s office at 100 John Street Manhattan hung up after being questioned about the fire. However, later on Monday afternoon, a spokesperson for Moinian, the property management company, issued an email statement. The statement claimed, “As with all our buildings, 100 John Street Manhattan meets all New York City Fire Code requirements, and an alarm within the building was activated, notifying management and the fire department of the emergency.” The statement further added that the company is “cooperating with all relevant authorities to determine the cause of this incident” at 100 John Street Manhattan.
The fire incident at 100 John Street Manhattan raises serious questions regarding fire safety protocols and alarm system reliability in residential buildings. While investigations are underway, the residents’ accounts of alarm failure highlight a critical concern that needs to be addressed to ensure the safety and well-being of occupants at 100 John Street Manhattan and similar high-rise buildings.
