Firefighters on Sunday, April 23, 2017, worked to extinguish a deadly fire in a two-story private building in Queens Village, officials said. The fire, at 112-16 208th St., extended to a neighboring building, officials said. As of Sunday afternoon, the cause of the fire was unknown, according to the fire department's public information officer. Thirty-nine units and 168 personnel fought the blaze, which was declared under control at 4:25 p.m., officials said. (Credit: Jim Staubitser)
- Share on Facebook
- Share on Twitter
- Share on Pinterest
- Share on LinkedIn
- Share on Reddit
- Copy Link to Topic
Replies sorted oldest to newest
A house fire in Queens Village Sunday killed five people, three of them children, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday.
The youngest victim was 2 years old, said FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro. Two firefighters were hurt, but the injuries werenβt life-threatening, the FDNY said.
This is a very, very sad day,β Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a news conference at the scene. βItβs a difficult moment for people on this block to see a family literally destroyed before their very eyes. Itβs a very, very painful day.β
The fire in a two-floor building at 112-16 208th St., first reported at 2:36 p.m., extended to a neighboring building, FDNY officials said.
βThe loss was horrendous but thank God there were no serious injuries to the members of the FDNY,β de Blasio said.
The three-alarm fire took hours to get under control. No firefighters were seriously injured.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro says that the youngest victim of the fire is believed to be two years old, and the oldest victim is believed to be 21 years old. A 46-year-old man came out of the second-floor window of the home. He is currently in fair condition. All of the victims were from the same family.
"This is a terrible and sad time," Commissioner Nigro said.
Distraught family members and neighbors showed up to the scene, crying and asking 'why would God let this happen?'