3 people dead after fire rips through home in Bayside, Queens
BAYSIDE, Queens (WABC) -- Three people are dead after flames ripped through a home in Queens overnight.
The fatal fire happened around 2:40 a.m. on Sunday at a two-story house on 208th Street near 34th Avenue.
Video shows firefighters on scene putting out the fire. Although the fire was originally believed to have started on the second floor of home, FDNY officials during a Sunday morning press conference said they now believe the flames began in the basement.
Crews found a 90-year-old woman and her 54-year-old daughter on the first floor bedroom. The 90-year-old's second child, a 56-year-old man was found dead in the basement. Everyone looked out for the matriarch of the family, who they say suffered from Dementia and wandered the neighborhood.
"She didn't know us after awhile because of the sickness, it's hard to believe she's gone," said Desmond Brennan.
During the press conference, FDNY Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker spoke about the deaths and those impacted.
"It's unacceptable to me, and we're going to do everything at the FDNY to make sure that fire deaths stay low. We're certainly thinking about the families that are affected by this," Tucker said.
Officials added that there were no issues with vehicles blocking fire hydrants while firefighters worked to contain the fire.
This past week, authorities say cars parked in front of fire hydrants hindered the FDNY's response to a deadly fire at a Buddhist temple in the Bronx. Cars were also recently seen blocking fire hydrants near a fatal fire at an apartment building in Brooklyn.
More than 100 firefighters and EMS personnel responded to battle the flames.
Fire marshals are now trying to determine the cause of the fire.
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