Seven children between the ages of 5 and 15 were killed last night in a fire in a single-family home in Midwood. Authorities believe the blaze was caused by a hot plate left on in the kitchen.
According to the NYPD, firefighters responded to a 911 call about a fire at 3371 Bedford Avenue at around 12:23 a.m. It took about 100 firefighters under an hour to control the flames. Once the fire was out, authorities found nine people inside the home.
Victims included an 8-year-old girl, who was pronounced dead at the scene; a 15-year-old girl, who was pronounced dead at Maimonides Hospital; two boys ages 5 and 6, who were pronounced dead at Beth Israel Hospital; and a 12-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy, and a 7-year-old boy, who were pronounced dead at Community Hospital. The children were all part of the same family, and their 45-year-old mother and 14-year-old sister survived. The former was taken to Jacobi Hospital in critical condition, and the teen girl was taken to Staten Island University North Hospital, also in critical condition.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro told reporters at a press conference today that a mulfunctioning hot plate left on in the home's downstairs kitchen started the fire. According to Nigro, the hot plate had likely been left on to keep food warm overnight, since Orthodox Jews are unable to turn on stoves or ovens during the Sabbath.
According to witnesses, the children's mother jumped from a window in the home. "I heard the mother yelling, 'My kids are in there! My kids are in there! Get them out! Get them out!,'" a neighbor told the Daily News.
Fire officials say there were no working smoke detectors in the home's first and second floors.
