Three people died and a room was seriously injured on Easter Sunday when a fire crossed an overcrowded house in Queens, which had no evidence of a smoke detector that worked and had blocked stairs and exits, firefighters said.
Improvised walls had been erected in the house of Jamaica Estates, even in the middle of the kitchen, said the head of the New York Fire Department, John Esposito, at a press conference.
The authorities also said that the extension cables were found in the two -story house. Cables can be overheated, especially when they are overloaded or used incorrectly, which leads to fires, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International. The fire department is still determining the origin of the fire.
Firefighters arrived in less than four minutes, but the fire in the early hours of the morning spread rapidly to the upper floors of the house. There were reports from people jumping from the attic window, said Esposito.
People lived on both floors of the house, as well as in their winery and attic, said Esposito.
“We are not encouraging, we are begging all New Yorkers who have a smoke alarm that works in their home and, you know, if it is also possible a CO2 detector,” said the Fire Commissioner of New York City, Robert S. Tucker, during a Sunday press conference.
Around 10 to 15 people reside at home, including its lessor, the second floor resident, Adham Ammar, told ABC7 Eyewitness News. Ammar was not at home when the fire occurred, he said.
“Part of this, is due to the negligence of the owner,” he said. The AP attempts to get to the owner were not successful.
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries.
