A devastating fire in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, claimed the life of a 40-year-old homeless woman who was found dead in an alley behind a vacant building. Firefighters discovered her body after battling a significant blaze that erupted shortly after 8 a. m. on Tuesday. According to FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief David Simms, the woman had constructed a makeshift home between the basement entrance and the alley, gaining illegal access through a knocked-in cinderblock wall.

Firefighters faced challenges in extinguishing the fire due to the building's sealed state, which delayed water access. Although weather conditions were not a factor in the water supply, the arduous cold made firefighting efforts more difficult, resulting in three firefighters suffering minor injuries. The building had a history of safety concerns, having experienced five fires in the past two years, raising alarm about its stability. As fire marshals work to determine the blaze's cause, the NYC Department of Buildings will decide the future of the damaged structure. This tragedy underscores the ongoing issues surrounding homelessness and vacant properties in urban areas.