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Makeshift walls had been erected in the Jamaica Estates home,
including through the middle of the kitchen, New York Fire
Department Chief John Esposito said at a news conference.
Officials also said extension cords were found throughout the
two story home. The cords can overheat, especially when
overloaded or improperly used, leading to fires, according to
Electrical Safety Foundation International. The fire department
is still determining the fire’s origin.
Firefighters arrived in less than four minutes, but the blaze in
the early morning hours spread quickly to the upper floors of
the house. There were reports of people jumping out of the attic
window, Esposito said.
People lived on both floors of the house, as well as its cellar
and attic, Esposito said.
“We are not encouraging, we're begging all New Yorkers to have a
working smoke alarm in their home, and, you know, if possible a
CO2 detector as well," New York City Fire Commissioner Robert S.
Tucker said during a Sunday press conference.
About 10 to 15 people reside in the home, including its
landlord, second floor resident Adham Ammar told ABC7 Eyewitness
News. Ammar was not in the home when the fire happened, he said.
“Part of this, it’s because of the negligence of the landlord,”
he said. Attempts by the AP to reach the landlord were
unsuccessful.
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries.
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