Queens House Fire Leaves Baby Missing, One Dead and Nine Injured
A 17-day-old baby girl remains missing following a catastrophic four-alarm fire that engulfed a residential home in Queens, New York City, resulting in one fatality and nine injuries. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) responded to the intense blaze at a two-and-a-half-story house just before 7pm on Tuesday, confronting what officials described as a 'heavy fire' that rapidly escalated.
Rapid Spread and Devastating Aftermath
According to FDNY reports provided to the Daily Mail, the fire originated on the first floor and swiftly spread, even igniting neighboring properties. Assistant Chief David Simms revealed that during the peak of the inferno, responders received intelligence indicating two residents were unaccounted for and likely residing in the basement. Specialized search units, navigating through four feet of water after water lines were cut, discovered one of those individuals, a 34-year-old woman, deceased. Searches in the basement were subsequently halted due to a localized collapse, leaving the infant still unlocated and believed trapped under water and debris.
Injuries and Heroic Rescues
The incident left a trail of injuries, with seven civilians and two firefighters sustaining wounds, though the firefighters' injuries were minor. Among the civilians, two children aged 10 and 13 were reported injured by CBS News, while a 22-year-old man suffered life-threatening burns covering 99 percent of his body, as detailed by Fox 5. A witness recounted to the New York Post the harrowing sight of 'skin melting off his face and body.' In a dramatic escape, four individuals leaped from windows to evade the flames, and two others were rescued from the second floor. One firefighter fell through the deteriorating first story but was safely extracted.
Structural Damage and Community Impact
The fire caused extensive structural damage, with the second floor completely collapsing and the roof destroyed. Two adjacent properties were 'heavily damaged,' prompting evacuation orders for residents of nearby buildings. The flames spread so ferociously that a car parked in front of the house also caught fire. Civilian videos and photos captured the scene, showing billowing black smoke, crackling power lines, and massive flames erupting from the home. One bystander told CBS, 'The whole thing was going up so fast. It was terrible.'
Massive Response and Ongoing Investigation
More than 200 emergency responders, including FDNY personnel, assisted in the terrifying aftermath, with the blaze finally brought under control around 1am on Tuesday. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and none of the victims have been publicly identified at this time. The community and authorities continue to grapple with the aftermath of this tragic event, as efforts to locate the missing baby and support those affected persist.
