Tag: firefighters

Elderly man described as “nicest guy” dies in Queens housefire

An elderly victim described by neighbors as “the nicest guy” died in a Queens house fire early Sunday morning after more than 100 firefighters took two hours to extinguish the flames, officials said.

The 82-year-old man, who has not been identified, perished in the three-alarm blaze that sparked out of control at the two-story home at 218-01 36th Ave in Bayside at about 5:40 a.m., according to fire officials.

“When the fellas pulled up, it was fully involved,” FDNY Battalion Chief Brian Deery said at a morning press conference.

The elderly man was the only person in the house, Deery said.

Firefighters found him severe burns in the back of the home on the second floor, authorities said. Emergency medical workers pronounced him dead at the scene.

The quiet suburban neighborhood still smelled of smoke and ash Sunday afternoon. Homes on both sides of the blackened husk of a house showed signs of the conflagration, including melted siding and blown-out glass windows.

Neighbors told The Post that the victim was a friendly, helpful older Italian man who belonged to the local Knights of Columbus and St. Josaphat Roman Catholic Church in Bayside.


It took nearly 100 firefighters almost two hours to knock down the three-alarm fire in Queens.
Seth Gottfried

Firefighters hold a hose as they put water on the fire.
An 82-year-old man died in the blaze, authorities said.
Seth Gottfried

He handed out cards and money at the church’s Bingo nights and knew everybody in the neighborhood, according to one of his neighbors, a woman named Liz.

“He was a wonderful guy,” Liz told The Post. “It’s a shame to die this way, and to die alone too … He never talked about anybody, he’d do anything for anyone.”

“I never saw anything like it this morning,” said another neighbor, who has lived across the street from the victim for more than two decades. “Flames just engulfed the house.”


Neighbors described the elderly victim as a “wonderful guy.”
Seth Gottfried

Homes on both sides suffered damage, firefighters said.
Seth Gottfried

Deery said firefighters struggled to work inside the home because of the darkness, the thick black smoke and a severe amount of clutter.

“You’re going in and you really can’t see anything and you have clutter … you’re searching and you’re bouncing into things,” Deery said. “It’s hard to maneuver … so it kind of delays the search.”

But Deery added that the mess did not stop firefighters from reaching the victim promptly.

Fire officials are still investigating the fire’s cause, the chief said.


The three-alarm fire in Bayside was extinguished at about 7:20 a.m.
Seth Gottfried

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Chicago firefighter Walter Stewart’s wife, three kids dead in house fire

A Chicago firefighter’s entire family was tragically killed in the days after their house caught on fire – a scene he rushed to after hearing his home address over the radio dispatch at his job last week.

Firefighter Walter Stewart’s three children – all younger than 10 — and his wife succumbed to injuries from Tuesday’s deadly blaze.

Stewart didn’t originally respond to the fire, but once he heard his address over radio dispatch he was quickly taken there and even administered CPR to his wife, the fire department said.

Firefighters are spotted at the scene where Walter Stewart’s 2-year-old son, 7-year-old son, 9-year-old daughter, and wife died.
CBS Chicago
All four of the family members reportedly suffered from smoke inhalation.
ABC 7 Chicago


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Stewart’s 7-year-old son Ezra Stewart died Wednesday and his wife, Summer Day-Stewart, perished Thursday at 36.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office said Stewart’s 9-year-old daughter Autumn Day-Stewart and his 2-year-old son Emory Day-Stewart died Friday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

All four of the family members reportedly suffered from smoke inhalation.

They were all originally rescued from the burning home and rushed to the hospital, officials said.

The fire started in the kitchen and its cause is under investigation, according to authorities.

In wake of the shocking deaths, Stewart has agreed to donate organs from each family member to others who might need a transplant, a fire department source told the Sun-Times.


Flowers are left at the front of the house’s doorstep to honor the victims.
ABC 7 Chicago

The Chicago Fire Department started a fundraiser to help Stewart’s family as loved ones deal with an “unspeakable tragedy.”

“Please keep the Stewart Family in your thoughts and prayers,” the department wrote. 

With Post wires

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California woman Destiny Abdrazack dead in house fire sparked by Christmas tree

A woman in California died early Christmas morning in a heartbreaking house fire sparked by an artificial Christmas tree.

Destiny Abdrazack, 22, was celebrating Christmas Eve with her fiancé’s family in their North Highlands home when an electrical short from the tree ignited a roaring fire around 2 a.m. Sunday, local NBC affiliate KCRA3 reported.

Abdrazack yelled that there were flames, awakening the five others in the house, which didn’t have working smoke alarms, according to her fiancé’s father Ernest Isom.

“She was the one who yelled fire, and that’s the sad part,” Isom told KCRA3 of the woman who was to be his future daughter-in-law. “She saved our lives.”

Abdrazack was pulled out of the burning building by firefighters, but later died at an area hospital.

The five others in the house — Isom, his wife and son and two other adults — survived.

Isom said the family had fallen asleep without turning off the Christmas tree lights.

“Unfortunately, they wanted to keep the lights on until the last minute and we all happened to fall asleep and we had an instant, seconds to get out,” he told the station. “It was fast, and that’s how quick it went. I’m talking minutes.”

Two family dogs also died in the fire and the house was destroyed.

Neighbors told the local news station that they woke up to a loud sound and looked out the window to see flames shooting out of the home.

“You could see the flickering light on the tree and that’s kind of like the telltale sign of a fire,” Richard Byers said.

He ran out of his house and grabbed a fire extinguisher while another neighbor used a garden house to try to put out the inferno to no avail.

“The fire just came right back,” Byers said. “It was too intense, moving too fast.”

His wife, Brandy Byers said when they came out of their home three doors down they saw Isom’s family standing outside shouting for help.

“They were screaming, ‘Destiny! There’s someone inside! There’s someone inside!” Brandy Byers told KCRA3. “There [was] nothing any of us could do.”

Firefighters rescued Abdrazack from the living room of the home and she was taken to an area hospital in critical condition.

Her family confirmed her death the next day and set up a GoFundMe to raise money to cover her hospital and funeral expenses.

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Texas firefighter Charles Krampota found dead at after responding to call

A Texas town is mourning the loss of a firefighter who was found dead hours after responding to a call.

The Alvin Volunteer Fire Department announced on Facebook that Capt. Charles Krampota died in the line of duty on Friday after fighting a fire earlier in the day.

Krampota was part of a crew that responded to a fully-involved blaze at a mobile home off Susie Lane in Alvin, Texas. The department said no residents were at the home during the fire, and it was extinguished shortly after.

Hours after being cleared from the scene, Krampota was found dead inside his home.

Krampota was reportedly a member of the Alvin VFD for over 20 years.

“Charlie was an outstanding firefighter, and friend to so many,” Chief Rex Klesel said in a news release. “One of the most dependable and hardworking individuals I have even met. He will be sorely missed.”

He also spent over 30 years working for the Alvin Independent School District. The school district’s website showed his most recent position as a MEP Manager in the Maintenance Department.

Alvin Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Charles Krampota is seen participating in a training exercise in a picture dated March 1, 2013. 
Alvin Volunteer Fire Department

Local business The Barwash also posted a tribute to Krampota’s life with a collage of personal photos and the following statement: 

“Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Charles Krampota, who we liked to call Chuckles. He was a great man, we loved him, and he will be deeply missed by all. Today we are saddened, but I know he would want his life celebrated. RIP sir.”

The Brazoria County Fire Marshal’s Office and the state Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating his death.

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FDNY firefighter seriously injured battling Staten Island blaze

A firefighter was seriously injured while battling a blaze on Staten Island Friday night, authorities said.

The fire broke out on the second floor of a three-story home on Gary Court in Bulls Head just before 10:30 p.m., the FDNY said.

The injured fireman suffered serious injuries to his neck and face, according to sources.

Firefighters respond to a three-story home fire on Gary Court in Bulls Head just before 10:30 p.m.
Steve White
The firefighters were able to calm the fire down and control it 50 minutes after responding to the call on Aug. 12, 2022.
whiite

He was being treated at Staten Island University Hospital, officials said.

The fire was under control about 50 minutes after the call went out, the FDNY said.

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