Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of BRITTANY BABB, 32, for an escalating pattern of arsons, including at an abandoned Chelsea apartment building that caused a 3-alarm fire. BABB is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of Arson in the Second Degree, Third Degree, Fourth Degree and Fifth Degree; and Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree. [1]
“This is an alleged frightening pattern of arsons that destroyed a vacant apartment building in Chelsea,” said District Attorney Bragg. “While it is extremely fortunate that nobody was living in this building, the defendant’s alleged conduct threatened the safety of those working and living in the surrounding residential buildings and 24-hour bodega, which all experienced fire damage from the resulting blaze. I want to thank our prosecutors, the NYPD and the FDNY, for all working closely together to quickly arrest and charge the defendant and stop this conduct.”
As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, BABB’s conduct began on April 1, 2026, at approximately 4:30 a.m., where she set cardboard and debris on fire in front of 239 First Avenue. A few minutes later, she lit more cardboard and debris in front of 333 14th Street, which eventually spread to a nearby car.
On April 12, 2026, at approximately 5:12 a.m., BABB lit a piece of cardboard on fire and entered a vacant residential building at 210 7th Avenue in Chelsea, which was situated between two residential apartment buildings. One of the buildings has a 24-hour bodega that was operating at the time of the arson. The vacant building was soon engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading and causing damage to the adjoining, occupied structures.
The New York City Fire Department responded to the fire shortly after, and the vacant building was eventually destroyed.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A. Joshua Larmon, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Mark Dahl and Amy Hare (Deputy Chiefs of Trial Bureau 40), Assistant D.A. Kathleen Coulson, (Acting Deputy Bureau Chief of Trial Bureau 40), and Assistant D.A. Nicole Blumberg (Chief of Trial Bureau 40), and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Trial Preparation Assistant Michael Waxman of Trial Bureau 40 is also assigned to and assisting with the case.
D.A. Bragg thanked the FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigation Fire Marshals, the 13th Precinct Detective Squad, Officers Erasmo Troia and Mark Zepeda of the 13th Precinct, Kimberly Stephenson of the District Attorney Body-Worn Camera Unit, and the NYPD Lower Manhattan Security Initiative (LMSI) for their assistance with the investigation and prosecution of this matter.
Defendant Information:
BRITTANY BABB
Bronx, NY
Charged:
- Arson in the Second Degree, a class B felony, one count
- Arson in the Third Degree, a class C felony, one count
- Arson in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, one count
- Arson in the Fifth Degree; a class A misdemeanor, one count
- Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count