80-year-old man dies in Hamilton Heights fire

An 80-year-old man died after a fire broke out early Monday morning in a building in Hamilton Heights, according to the FDNY. Fire officials said the blaze started on the third floor around 1:30 a.m., and crews worked for nearly four hours to bring it under control.

The FDNY said heavy clutter inside the building and a blocked hydrant outside made fighting the fire harder. Two other residents and two firefighters suffered minor injuries, according to officials. A witness, Mason Garrity, described flames coming all the way up the outside of the building and called the scene outrageous.

The Red Cross said it registered 44 people for emergency assistance after the fire.

The death comes as new FDNY data shows nearly 90 people have died in fires this year, nearly double the 45 deaths reported at this point last year. City Council is seeking answers from the department. It sent the FDNY a letter Sunday evening asking it to appear later this month to discuss the increase. Separately, lithium-ion battery fire investigations have already passed last year's total by 43%. The FDNY said outdoor incidents are driving the increase, and some involve only smoky conditions.

The cause of Monday's fire is under investigation. The FDNY has not linked it to lithium-ion batteries.