An early morning house blaze on January 30, 2005 in Jamaica Queens, New York City proved deadly for three residents. The fire which broke out around 6:30 AM quickly spread, engulfing the entire house.
When first firefighters arrived at the scene, heavy flames were already shooting out from the structure. Without moments, the first battalion chief on the scene transmitted a second alarm.
With known occupants trapped in the house, firefighters started their search and rescue attempt. Firefighters were able to rescue four people from the burning inferno, but it was too late for three others. Two were trapped in the basement and never had a chance to escape, and another died after going back into the fire to try to save his wife and child. Firefighters had already rescued his wife and kid, which the man did not know at the time.
Hindering the operation were two major factors. One was a blocked fire hydrant directly across the street from the house. With the hydrant being blocked by garbage and snow, firefighters had no clue it was there, forcing them to use another one which was 200 feet away. In addition, firefighters had to cut off security bars on the windows. What could have been an easy escape route out the window, firefighters had to spend valuable time on concentrating to remove the window bars.
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries, but a fourth firefighter suffered severe burns to his neck after falling down a flight of stairs while searching for victims. The four victims that survived are in critical condition. Fire Marshall's believe the cause of the fire is from a space heater.
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