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According to the New York City Fire Department, residents on the building's second floor were cooking with a hot plate too close to a bed. When the fire started, officials said the residents did not call 911 and tried to use a bedspread and a curtain to smother the fire.
When that did not work, the residents fled the building and left their apartment door open, according to fire officials.
The fire quickly engulfed the top floors of the building, the structure partially collapsed and flames spread to three adjacent buildings.
Two men who rented spaces on the third floor, Gregory "Uncle Jiggs" Atkinson, 44, and Frank Edwards, 56, died during the fire.
Edwards was found on the third floor and Atkinson either fell or jumped to his death from the top floor after being overwhelmed by smoke.
Atkinson's nephew, Bernard Downes, said he tried to save his uncle during the fire.
"Everybody panicked at one time. I turned around and saw Jiggs in the window. I kept telling Jiggs, 'Jump, jump,' trying to get him out of the window. I tried to get the ladder, but I couldn't get the ladder to him. Next thing I know, they said he fell," said Downes. "It happened so quickly and now he ain't here no more."
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries fighting the blaze.
Third-floor resident Harry Goff said he escaped the burning building with just the clothes on his back.
"I had to use the bathroom and I smelled something burning and I just kept on coming down the steps and everybody started running," said Goff.
Neighbors who left candles and roses in front of the burnt building Saturday in tribute of Atkinson said he was an amiable and helpful person.
"Everybody on this block knew him. He would give you the shirt off his back. If you didn't have food, he would give you something to eat. He was always there for you," said a local. "He was just sweet. You can't say nothing bad about him."
"The guy who jumped from the window, I knew him. He was like a best friend. For this Mother's Day we had a party, and he was dancing," said another. "He was like the man on this block. Everybody knew him as a friendly guy."
According to Buildings Department records, complaints were filed last year against 16 Covert Street for illegal conversions and other illegal work. Inspectors were never able to get inside the building.
In reaction, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn called the circumstances of the fire "extremely troubling."
In a joint statement with Councilman Erik Martin Dilan and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, Quinn said in part Saturday, "We will be convening a hearing on June 7 that will examine ways the city can improve inspectors' access to buildings that have been reported and take action against these potentially deadly housing violations."
