HELL’S KITCHEN — A fire in a luxury high-rise that killed a playwright and left several people injured two years ago was caused by "dangerous" conditions in the West 43rd Street building, a new lawsuit says.
Edward Singh-Walia, who was hurt when the blaze broke out at The Strand at 500 W. 43rd St., on Jan. 5, 2014, has sued the building's condo association, its board of managers, the property manager and the owner of the apartment where the fire started in Manhattan Supreme Court.
The resident suffered “personal injuries" and lost around $250,000 in furniture, clothing, electronics, jewelry and other belongings as a result of the fire, the lawsuit says.
“[The fire] and the resulting injuries sustained by [Singh-Walia] were caused by the recklessness, carelessness and negligence of the defendants herein in the ownership, operation, management, maintenance [and] control of the… premises,” the suit claims.
The fire was sparked by a “faulty Christmas-tree wire,” the New York Post reported.
The suit cites "dangerous, defective and unsafe conditions" including a lack of self-closing apartment doors, “failure and/or lack of” a functional sprinkler system, centralized fire alarm system, smoke and heat detectors “and/or” a “voice evacuation system" as possible causes of the fire.
Singh-Walia, whose attorney didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday, is seeking $250,000 in damages and the cost of legal fees.
In August 2015, insurers for The Strand’s condo association reached a $2 million settlement with the family of playwright Daniel McClung, who died from smoke inhalation while trying to flee the building.
The Strand and its property manager, FirstService Residential New York, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. The owner of the apartment where the fire began could not be reached for comment.
