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....December 8, 2:23 PM |
| NO ROOM TO BREATHE: Packed Illegal Conversion Basement Was Deathtrap For 3 kids, Elderly Man
By ANDREW MOESEL A fire in a crowded Elmhurst house killed three children and an elderly man Tuesday night, gutting the entire structure and leaving an additional 18 people without a home.
Christian Gaston and Richard Laboy, ages 5 and 6, were found dead in a basement closet, where officials believe they hid to escape the smoke. Their 1-year old sister, Jocelyn Collado, was found in her crib. Ibraham Reyes, 87, who also lived in the basement, was discovered near the bottom of the cellar steps. Witnesses said the fires started slowly coming from the basement just after 6 p.m., but the blaze then spread rapidly to the upper floors. Jennifer Gaston, the children’s mother, escaped with her two other children and attempted to run back into the building, but she was pushed backwards as the flames erupted, according to Jose Denao, a neighbor who saw the fire. Gaston, 27, wandered aimlessly in circles outside the home, repeating to herself, “my babies, my babies.” Her face appeared blank until a group of family began comforting her, then she began to weep softly. The fire likely started as a result of children playing with a lighter, fire department sources said. Early reports indicated it also could have been the result of an electric heater that ignited a mattress. A metal door leading to the basement was locked from the inside and hindered firefighters from bringing a hose into the house, slowing their ability to control the flames, fire officials said. Firemen were forced to fight the body of the flames from the outside until they could make their way in the front door. The door also could have blocked further attempts by the mother to enter the building and save her children, fire officials said. Jose Aviles, who lives on the same block, said he often spotted the children playing near PS 89, where they attended school. “They were really nice kids,” he said. “It’s really sad they’re gone.” Dangerous Occupancy Several reports indicate that as many as 21 people lived in the Elmhurst home, located at 40-77 Denman St. Tax records and a mortgage filing classify the building as only a one-family home, which means its legal occupancy should not exceed five people. City financial records estimated the building had just over 2,100 square feet of room, leaving about 100 square feet per person living in the residence. Aviles said his uncle used to park behind the house and saw people constantly entering and leaving the home. He had heard before the fire there were as many as seven people living in the basement. Fire department officials said the upper floors of the building had been subdivided into smaller rooms, but the extent of the alterations was unclear because of the substantial fire damage to the interior. The Department of Buildings plans to conduct a full inspection of the building to uncover whether there were any occupancy violations, but inspectors cannot enter until the fire department cleans the premises, according to DOB spokeswoman Jennifer Givner. DOB records do not indicate any complaints against the property, nor have there been any permits issued for construction since 1927. A Growing Problem Although no estimates are available on the number of illegal conversions in Queens, the topic continues to grow as a source of controversy within a number of communities. The practice has become especially common in immigrant communities such as Elmhurst, where increasing housing prices and high density have forced many to look for alternatives to traditional, legal residences. “We have a serious housing shortage, so many people double and triple up,” said Borough President Helen Marshall. “That’s a problem.” Illegally converted units often pose a higher threat to both residents and emergency responders, who can become confused in a maze of unconventional doors, walls and exits. Two firefighters were killed and another two were injured this January in the Bronx when they became trapped in the upper floors of an illegally converted apartment. In some cases, the property owner can be held responsible if illegal alterations in a house are responsible for a death. Queens DA spokesman Kevin Ryan said his office was looking at circumstances of the fire, but it was too early to tell if charges could be brought. |
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