Community mourns mother and 3 children killed in Brooklyn fire caused by lit menorah
SHEEPSHEAD BAY, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Mourners filled the streets outside a Brooklyn synagogue Monday night after a mother and her three children were killed in a fast-moving fire that swept through their home in Sheepshead Bay.
Officials said it was sparked by a lit menorah for Hanukkah.
A funeral procession was held for 39-year-old Aliza Azan and children 11-year-old Moshe, 7-year-old Yitzah and 3-year-old Henrietta.
The bodies of those killed were sent to Israel for burial there on Wednesday.
The father, 45-year-old Joseph Azan, remains hospitalized with severe burns after running back into the home to try to save his family.
Two of his children are in critical condition at Staten Island University Hospital.
Five firefighters were also injured.
The fire broke out in the home on East 14th Street around 2:20 a.m., with flames burning through the second floor and the attic of the home.
Firefighters arrived in less than three minutes, and even by then, they were met by intense flames.
"It was an early morning, everyone in their home was asleep," FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said. "The fire did start, and it got a good start before a neighbor noticed it and called us."
Photos: Deadly fire in Brooklyn
Nigro said one of the teenagers jumped, while others in the house were able to get out a side door. He said the four who died were upstairs and not able to escape. The father, who was severely burned, ran back into the home to try to save the rest of his family.
The Jewish family members are natives of Israel and now dealing with tragedy during Hanukkah.
"This is a terrible tragedy, not just for this community but for our city," Nigro said. "At this time of the year, when these things strike, it just tears your heart out for the family and everybody that knows them."
Longtime friends described them as hard-working and deeply religious.
"They were the most happy children," friend Edward Nathen said. "Very, very friendly, popular, have a lot of friends."
Joseph Azan worked at the Borsalino Hat Box menswear shop on Coney Island Avenue and is well known and liked by many others in the community. Now, they are trying to wrap their minds around this awful tragedy.
"Just yesterday, I spent an hour and a half with him buying stuff for my kids," friend Moises Katz said. "It's just a shock. I'm just sad about it."
Video: Officials give update on fire:
Investigators said the fire was accidental and was from an oil-fueled menorah. It was on the first floor, where the blaze is believed to have started.
Nigro said the smoke alarms did appear to be working and may have alerted two of the boys to the fire.
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