Thursday, January 1, 2015

Boy, 7, Killed in House Fire That Started in Fireplace: FDNY



Boy, 7, Killed in House Fire That Started in Fireplace: FDNY
The blaze started in a fireplace and spread to furnishings and Christmas decorations


A 7-year-old boy died in a house fire in Queens Wednesday morning that started in a fireplace and spread to furnishings and Christmas decorations, officials said.
Christopher Miller was found dead at the bottom of the stairs in the East Elmhurst house, police said. He had been attempting to flee the blaze.
"He was on his way out, he just couldn't make it," said FDNY Deputy Chief Mark Ferran. "There was too much smoke at that time. He was overcome. There was just so much fire when we got here." 


The fire started after two teenagers who live in the house came back from a New Year's Eve party and started a fire in the fireplace to keep warm at around 5 a.m., according to Ferran. The teens fell asleep and the fire blazed through the house a few hours later.
There was no spark screen or working smoke alarm in the home, the FDNY said. 
Neighbors rushed to the burning home, but it was too hot. 
"I went there and I banged on the door, and I opened the front door -- it was already open," said Marie Bouzy. "I heard voice, like children's voices, inside." 
The teens, a grandfather and Christopher's 12-year-old brother made it out alive. The 12-year-old has burns on his hands and arms and is being treated at the hospital.
Firefighters said the boy's mother was hysterical with grief when she arrived home to learn what happened. A family friend on the scene was still in shock, saying, "I can't believe it. Oh, my God." 




A raging New Year’s Day house fire killed a 7-year-old Queens boy as he struggled to make it down the stairs to the front door, fire officials said.
Christopher Miller collapsed on the stairwell landing just a few feet away from escaping the blaze that left his 13-year-old brother with serious burns.
“(Christopher) was on his way out, but he just couldn’t make it — too much smoke,” said FDNY Deputy Chief Mark Ferran of the fire that broke out just after 9 a.m. Wednesday at the East Elmhurst home.

 Andrew Schwartz/For New York Daily News Firefighters gather at East Elmhurst home where the fire broke out.
“There was so much fire when we got here that there was nothing we could do.”
Fire officials said two 20-year-old friends visiting the family from out of town set a blaze in the fireplace on the first floor to keep warm.

 Andrew Schwartz/For New York Daily News Christopher Miller's grandparents struggle to cope with the news of his death.
Then they fell asleep, Ferran said.
“But the fire spread across the fireplace,” he said. “It caught into Christmas decorations, couches and other furnishings.”


 Andrew Schwartz/For New York Daily News Christopher's 13-year-old brother Matthew is being treated for second-degree burns on his arms and hands.
The commotion woke the two brothers who had been sleeping upstairs, and they both tried to make it down to the first floor of the 90th St. home, where the fire was raging.
Christopher died, and his 13-year-old brother — whom neighbors identified as Matthew — suffered second-degree burns on his arms and hands and was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Cornell.


Andrew Schwartz/For New York Daily News Family friend, Amanda Bejarano, of the victim of a house fire is comforted by a friend.
“He opened his eyes. He’s responsive, but he doesn’t know what’s going on,” a frantic relative said. “It’s a good thing he’s going to be all right . . . . But it’s going to take a while.”
The two visitors, who were not identified, guided the teen out through a back entrance. The children’s grandfather, who had been asleep in the basement, also got out, officials said.

 Andrew Schwartz/For New York Daily News Rescuers could find any smoke detectors in the home.
The two guests may have tried to put out the fire and delayed calling 911, Ferran said. “By the time they called, we arrived to an advanced fire,” Ferran said.
Rescuers were unable to find any smoke detectors.
The parents, who were out ringing in 2014, came back to find their house burning, neighbors said. “They were out at a New Year’s Eve party . . . they got home and learned their child was dead,” said neighbor Victor Carrera. “It’s horrible.”
Fire officials said the mother, identified by neighbors as Natalia, had to be taken away by paramedics because she was overcome with emotion.
Neighbor Marie Bouzy said she ran to try to rescue the children. “There was a lot of smoke and glass coming out. It was too much,” she said. “I heard screaming, like children screaming. Then it stopped.”