LONG ISLAND, N.Y.-- A stubborn fire claimed the life of a young girl on Long Island. The fire swept through a home in Dix Hills, and then rekindled hours later.
Eyewitness News reporter Lisa Colagrossi is live in Dix Hills with the latest.
It was a very busy morning for firefighters in Dix Hills. When Eyewitness News first arrived on the scene of the fire on Ryder Avenue the fire had reignited. There was intense flames and dark smoke shooting from the building. It took firefighters about 15 minutes to knock the fire down.
Firefighters made three attempts to reach the child but failed and there were other attempts made before they even arrived.
Despite repeated attempts from both the mother and a neighbor, 3-and-a-half year-old "Ariella" could not be rescued from her burning home on Ryder Avenue in Dix Hills.
Firefighters say by the time they were able to make it through the intense flames and up to the second floor it was too late, they found the little girl's body in her bed.
Investigators say the mother and her daughter were the only ones at home when the fire started just after nine o'clock last night.
"I saw a slew of police and fire engines and I thought that it might have been my house. I'm thankful that it wasn't, but I'm upset that something tragic happened over here," said neighbor Zohar Caspi.
"I don't know what could be worse. It makes you feel how vulnerable we all are, it's a scary, scary thing," said neighbor Richard Weinberg.
The father and their three young boys were not at home when the fire broke out. A male neighbor who tried to get to the girl was treated for smoke inhalation along with the mother.
So far, there still is no cause for the fire.
Copyright 2007 WABC-TV.
Republished with permission of WABC-TV.
