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Mother and Three Children Killed in Brooklyn Fire Mother and Three Children Killed in Brooklyn Fire
(about 2 hours later)
A mother and three children were killed and other members of their family were badly injured when a fire tore through a three-story home in Brooklyn in the early hours of Monday. Three children and their mother were killed and their father and other family members were badly injured when a fire shot up the stairways of a three-story home in Brooklyn early Monday, trapping part of the family inside as others fled through a side door or jumped out of a window.
After the flames were put out, the mother, 40, was found dead on the second floor of the single-family home, the authorities said. Nearby were her 3-year-old daughter, 7-year-old son and 11-year-old son.After the flames were put out, the mother, 40, was found dead on the second floor of the single-family home, the authorities said. Nearby were her 3-year-old daughter, 7-year-old son and 11-year-old son.
Five others in the home, including the children’s father, were injured. The father was in critical condition, the authorities said, as were two children. Five others in the home were injured. The father was in critical condition, the authorities said, as were two children.
At least one of the children was believed to have escaped by jumping out of a window. Five firefighters were also injured, though none seriously, said Daniel A. Nigro, the New York City fire commissioner.
The fire broke out around 2 a.m. in a home at 1946 East 14th Street. Neighbors across the street called 911, and firefighters were in front of the home in two minutes and 40 seconds, said Daniel A. Nigro, the New York City fire commissioner. Around 2 a.m., flames broke out in the front of the first floor, raced up the stairs to the second floor and climbed another set of stairs to the attic, where there were two more bedrooms, Mr. Nigro said.
The home was engulfed in flames. Most of the survivors fled out a side door. A teenager escaped by jumping out of a window, and broke his pelvis as he did, Mr. Nigro said.
“What they were confronted with is fire meeting them at the front door,” he said. “So the units, knowing there were people in the home, pushed in very aggressively.” But the mother and three of the children could not get out.
Fire marshals are still investigating the cause of the fire, but they suspect the flames started on the first floor and spread to the second floor and then to the attic. “They’d have to go down into the fire,” Mr. Nigro said. “They weren’t able to do that.”
Mr. Nigro said the fire was “not suspicious, but accidental.” At the sight of flames at 1946 East 14th Street, neighbors across the street dialed 911. Firefighters were in front of the home in two minutes and 40 seconds, Mr. Nigro said.
“Coming right out the windows, oh my god,” a neighbor, who gave his name only as Albert, said. “Tragedy.”
Videos from the scene showed a 10-foot-tall flame dancing out of a second-floor window. Firefighters found the home engulfed in flames.
“What they were confronted with is fire meeting them at the front door,” Mr. Nigro said. “So the units, knowing there were people in the home, pushed in very aggressively.”
Fire marshals are still investigating the cause of the fire. Mr. Nigro said the fire was “not suspicious, but accidental.”
Nine people were in the home: a mother and father, their six children and a cousin.Nine people were in the home: a mother and father, their six children and a cousin.
Five firefighters were also injured, said Francis X. Gribbon, a Fire Department spokesman.
Around 100 firefighters battled the flames and tended to the injured. The fire was put out in about an hour, the authorities said.Around 100 firefighters battled the flames and tended to the injured. The fire was put out in about an hour, the authorities said.
Those in critical condition were taken to Staten Island University Hospital, the authorities said. The police said two people were taken to Maimonides Hospital with minor injuries.Those in critical condition were taken to Staten Island University Hospital, the authorities said. The police said two people were taken to Maimonides Hospital with minor injuries.
Morris Levy, 63, a neighbor and friend of the father since they were young, said the family had only moved into the house from their old home on Ocean Parkway around six months ago.
The father, whose name Mr. Levy declined to share, owned a suit business on Coney Island Avenue. The mother was the daughter of a rabbi, he said.
“A very nice lady,” he said. “Such a beautiful family.”
Mr. Levy arrived at the burning house around 2:20 a.m. and saw battalions of firefighters doing their best.
“The fire was going very, very fast,” he said.
Later Monday morning, dozens of firefighters stood in the dark in front of the beige family home, its windows smashed out and charred. Community members threw arms around grieving people and walked them away.Later Monday morning, dozens of firefighters stood in the dark in front of the beige family home, its windows smashed out and charred. Community members threw arms around grieving people and walked them away.
A woman who has lived in the neighborhood for 15 years and gave her name only as Nellie said her daughter, who lives next door, called her at 2:30 a.m. “terrified.” She rushed over and saw a man lay a grown woman down outside until paramedics arrived. The house was ablaze.A woman who has lived in the neighborhood for 15 years and gave her name only as Nellie said her daughter, who lives next door, called her at 2:30 a.m. “terrified.” She rushed over and saw a man lay a grown woman down outside until paramedics arrived. The house was ablaze.
“We saw flames coming out,” Nellie said, trembling.“We saw flames coming out,” Nellie said, trembling.