On Sunday, February 15, a fast-moving fire at 41-50 78 th Street, between Broadway and Woodside Avenue, killed an elderly man. The fire tore through his sixth-floor apartment just before 7:30 pm.
Seventy-nine FDNY firefighters from 21 units and EMS personnel responded at the scene of the blaze, but were unfortunately impeded by a vehicle blocking one fire hydrant and another hydrant that was inoperative. Additionally, according to witnesses, there are no standpipes in the building, so firefighters had to manually carry the hose up to the sixth floor.
The firefighters discovered the 83-year-old man unconscious and unresponsive with severe injuries inside a bedroom. EMS rushed him to Elmhurst Hospital, where he later died.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
According to news reports, there have been no arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing, an NYPD spokesman said Monday, adding that the identity of the deceased senior is pending proper
family notification.
Less than a week ago, another Elmhurst fire took the life of a mother and her newborn daughter, who perished in a suspected illegal basement apartment on Dongan Avenue.
Contact Ronemus & Vilensky
Personal injury attorneys Ronemus & Vilensky work closely with victims injured in fires to preserve their rights. More importantly, we work hard to help hold those responsible for fire tragedies accountable. Contact us at 212-779-7070.