Bronx fire, explosion victim says she doesn't know where family will go next

Bronx fire, explosion victim says she doesn't know where family will go next By Lucy Yang Saturday, August 15, 2026 4:17AM Lucy Yang has more from the Bronx. NORWOOD, The Bronx (WABC) -- It has been over a week since an explosion and fire destroyed an apartment building in the Bronx . Residents are trying to piece together their new reality - and for one family, the prospects aren't good.

Ellese Falcon lost everything last week when an explosion, followed by a five-alarm blaze tore through her apartment building at 374 East 209th Street in the Norwood section of the Bronx.

Since then, she, her husband and her 15-year-old son have lived in their car and in a hotel -- but the clock is ticking. She says the hotel stay ends next Wednesday and she doesn't know where they will go next.

"We lost everything to now rush to 'okay, you got to get this, you got to do this, you got to do this.' It's hard. And some of us are literally still grieving everything that we lost," Falcon says.

Falcon says complicating her next placement are her services dogs. She lived with 12 dogs in her basement apartment - eight dogs she has re-homed, but the other four, she says, are her service dogs for her medical condition.

Satisfying all the red tape to get placed has been complicated to say the least.

"They're making it so impossible. And it's not even our fault that this happened. So what happens if we can't get the paperwork? Do we stay in the street?" says Falcon.

Three victims died in the horrific fire. It would take days to find all the bodies in the five-story apartment building.

Investigators believe it began on the third floor where there was extensive damage and interior collapse.

There was loss of life, loss of sentimental items, and loss of home for 45 victims. As families struggle to move forward, the cause is still under investigation.

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: ABC7 New York. Open at source →