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Three Killed in Inwood Walk-Up Fire as Investigators Probe Safety Lapses

City scrutiny of code compliance is intensifying after a recent lawsuit against the landlord over hazards next door.

Overview

  • Fire at the six-story building at 207 Dyckman Street broke out around 12:30 a.m. Monday, leaving three dead, about 14 injured, and more than 100 residents displaced.
  • Authorities identified two victims as People en Español editor Yolaine Díaz, 49, and her mother, Ana Mirtha Lantigua, 73, while the third victim has not yet been named.
  • FDNY said flames and smoke raced up the building’s only stairwell after apartment doors were left open, a risk self-closing doors are meant to prevent.
  • Days before the fire, the city sued owner JanJan Realty over unsafe conditions at 209 Dyckman Street, and records list more than 100 open violations at 207, including faulty self-closing doors, ceilings, mold, and pests.
  • Fire marshals are still determining the cause, and the Red Cross and city agencies are housing displaced tenants as officials weigh repairs and possible enforcement actions.