A partial collapse of a seven-story Bronx, N.Y., building on Dec. 11 resulted in no fatalities, according to the New York Fire Dept., but displaced about 30 families and six businesses two weeks before Christmas. 

“Four hours, FDNY members searching for potential victims of the partial building collapse at 1915 Billingsley Terrace,” FDNY tweeted at 10:22 p.m. “They have gone through a large pile of debris, 12 feet high in spots, and found no victims. Two civilians sustained minor injuries during the evacuation.”  

FDNY responded to the building located in the Morris Heights neighborhood shortly after the portion of the building on West Burnside Avenue and Phelan Place collapsed around 3:30 p.m. 

Firefighters evacuated the building which comprised 47 residential units and six businesses. The property has seven outstanding code violations, according to media reports, but none were related to the structural instability of the building, according to the Buildings Dept. The most recent violation was in March 2021 for hazardous conditions on the facade. 

FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh told reporters that it is unclear what caused the collapse but that her department will investigate further. She said her department deployed drones, K9 units, specially trained firefighters, tactical units, EMTs and rescue medics.