19 dead, including 9 children, in NYC apartment fire

A malfunctioning space heater sparked a fire that filled a Bronx apartment building with thick smoke, killing 19 people including nine children Sunday in New York City.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said the fire "started in a malfunctioning electric space heater” in an apartment unit spanning the second and third floors of the 19-story building. The children killed were 16 years old or younger.  Dozens of people were injured, and at least 13 people were still in critical condition.

Most of the victims had severe smoke inhalation. Approximately 200 firefighters responded to the building on East 181st Street around 11 a.m. Sunday. It was New York City's deadliest fire in more than three decades.