Woman killed in Williston Park house fire after going back for dog
WILLISTON PARK, Nassau County (WABC) -- A woman was killed and several others were injured in fast-moving house fire in Williston Park.
Officials say flames broke out inside the Lafayette Street home around 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Kashmira Patel, 60, was staying at her mother's house ahead of the funeral for her father, who died last week.
Patel got her mother safely out of the house, made it to the door herself, and decided to go back for her dog.
Both she and her dog died in the flames.
"She was a devoted mom and a loving family member overall," said the victim's niece, Khush Patel. "She was very devoted to her religion, her parents, always first and the rest of her family as well."
Patel said eight family members were inside the home when they woke up to smoke detectors.
"She went to get the dog, she considered her daughter so she went back," Patel said. "She actually came all the way to the door, helped her mom out of the house and then she went back."
Firefighters tried to save her life.
"They could not get into the house, there was heavy fire and the house was fully involved and already collapsing upon arrival," said Chief Fire Marshal Michael Utarro with the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office.
Most of the other residents, ranging from their 20s to their 60s, escaped and were treated for smoke inhalation, authorities said.
Those people went to Nassau University Medical Center and Long Island Jewish Hospital.
Crews are working to figure out the exact cause of the fire.
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