On January 10^th at 1:42 AM, Bronx dispatch received a phone alarm reporting an electrical fire at 2910 Wallace Avenue, a 200 X 100 6 story OMD. Dispatch was also receiving “smoke in the area” calls. Battalion 15 transmitted a 10-75 at 1:50 followed quickly by a 2^nd alarm two minutes later for a fire on the sixth floor. Three lines were stretched and residents were evacuated. Division 7 reported at 2:11 flames had broken through the roof and transmitted the third alarm. The wind driven flames spread quickly and a fourth alarm was sounded at 2:23. At 2:36 Field Comm reported fire on the top floor, in the cockloft and through the roof with 6 lines operating with 2 into cockloft nozzles and tower ladders being set up. 

Flames continued to spread, soon passing over the throat. All members were withdrawn from the top floor. At 2:49 a full 5th alarm was transmitted with the requirement the two trucks be 95’ tower ladders. By 3:30 heavy fire was in the top floor and through the roof of all four wings of the building. 

The fire did not drop down to the lower floors and the intensity slowly lessened. Many special calls for engines and tower ladders continued. As the flames continued to darken down, the requests became for relief apparatus. As more units were released, by 1:18, the fire was placed probably will hold with four engines and four tower ladders remaining to hit any hot spots. At 1:58 command put the blaze under control. Duration 12 hours and 16 minutes.

The fire is believed to have started in the cockloft, but an exact cause is still under investigation. Residents were directed to a local school where the Red Cross and City Agencies provided assistance. Seven people, five firefighters and two civilians,  received non-life threatening injuries.