STATEMENT FROM FIRE COMMISSIONER DANIEL A. NIGRO ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE FATAL FIRE AT 75 WILSON STREET
"FDNY Fire Marshals have determined the fire that took the life of Lieutenant Gordon M. Ambelas at 75 Wilson Street on July 5, 2014 is an accidental electrical fire. The fire originated at an air conditioning unit electrical cord, which was pinched between a bed frame and the wall of apartment 19B. Though the cause and origin of the fire has been determined, the Department's investigation remains ongoing."
The fire apartment contained what is known in the FDNY as "Colliers conditions," meaning the apartment was heavily cluttered with debris and belongings. These conditions make searches of a fire apartment extremely difficult and dangerous for responding Firefighters.
Press Contact: Francis X. Gribbon & Frank Dwyer, (FDNY) (718) 999-2056