A devastating house fire in Bayside, Queens, claimed the lives of three people early Sunday morning, according to local residents and fire department officials. The victims were an elderly woman in her 90s suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and her two adult children, one of whom had Down Syndrome. The fire department was alerted to the blaze on 20th Street between 33rd and 34th Avenues around 2:40 a.m.
Desmond Brennan, an 81-year-old neighbor, confirmed the tragic loss of the family. He stated that the mother and her two children, both likely in their 50s, had been long-time residents of the neighborhood, living there for over half a century. Brennan described the horrifying scene, recounting the sight of black smoke billowing from the house and the unsuccessful attempts of firefighters to resuscitate one of the victims.
The fire, which originated in the basement of the home, was brought under control within an hour by the combined efforts of over 100 firefighters and EMS personnel. The fire department’s Chief of Department, John Esposito, revealed during a press conference that two unconscious victims were discovered in a first-floor bedroom, while a third was found in the basement.
Esposito also addressed the disturbing report that the son’s severely burned body remained in the basement after the fire was extinguished. He explained that the department’s policy is to leave confirmed fatalities in place for the medical examiner to handle.
Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker expressed his deep regret over the incident, stating that the loss of three lives in a fire was unacceptable. He assured the public that the fire department would do everything in its power to keep fire-related deaths to a minimum. The fire department has yet to release the names of the deceased, and the incident is currently under investigation by fire marshals.