Funeral Service Today For 15 Victims Of Bronx High-Rise Fire

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A funeral prayer service will be held Sunday morning for 15 of the victims killed in the Bronx high-rise fire.

A large turnout is expected for the 10 a.m. service at the Islamic Cultural Center in Fordham Heights.

READ MORE: Bronx High-Rise Fire: How To Help Victims And Their Families

Ahead of the service, Mayor Eric Adams visited a local mosque to pray with the victims’ families.

“I cannot feel the pain of people by remaining in City Hall,” Adams said.

CBS2’s Jessica Moore asked Haji Dukuray, who lost five family members in the fire, what it meant to have the mayor pray with him.

“It meant the world to us,” Dukuray said. “He didn’t come across as the mayor of New York City. He came across as family. Those type of encouragement is what’s keeping our family together, it’s what’s keeping us strong during these emotional moments.”

A long line of mourners are filing into the Islamic Cultural Center for the funeral of the 17 Bronx fire victims. The Mayor, Lt. Gov, and Attorney General among the many attendees expected to speak. pic.twitter.com/YXHpwbuEdi

— Christina Fan (@Christinafantv) January 16, 2022

The deadly fire was caused by a malfunctioning space heater exactly one week ago. It sent smoke billowing up 19 stories, killing 17 people, including eight children. All of them were Muslim immigrants from West Africa.

READ MORE: Bronx High-Rise Fire: Memorial Wall Pays Tribute To Victims As We Learn More About Lives Lost

“My heart is broken completely,” said Ansumana Susso, cousin of one of the victims.

“You just can’t eat and swallow and digest. Something that will never be the same,” Dayshawn Taylor said.

Local leaders say their fight for victims will continue long after the funeral. Congressman Ritchie Torres wants Congress to pass a law requiring all space heaters be equipped with automatic shutoffs, and all federally funded buildings be outfitted with self-closing doors.

“We know if the self-closing doors had been functioning properly, the spread of the smoke would have been contained,” Torres said.

All the residents are currently staying at hotels, which are paid for through January 24. Once apartments are deemed safe, residents can return. But they don’t have.

“They are traumatized and they no longer want to live here. So we have committed to accommodate every household that wants to permanently relocate elsewhere in the Bronx,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.

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Of the 17 victims, two young children were already laid to rest earlier this week.