'They Were Pulling People Out Of The Windows:' 3-Alarm Fire In Queens Village Kills 3
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Tragedy struck a Queens neighborhood early Sunday after three people were killed and several others were seriously hurt when a fire ripped through a multi-story home.
As many as 140 firefighters tackled the flames that devoured home, CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported Sunday evening.
Param Singh's family was trapped inside. His grandparents, 82-year-old Ragvir Kaur-Kainth and 87-year-old Pyara Kainth, and his 32-year-old sister, Harleen Kaur, did not survive.
"We're family. It was my parents, grandparents, uncle, my aunt, my brother-in-law, my sister, my nephew, my niece, everyone," Singh said.
Singh said 11 people were in the home on 211th Street and 93rd Road, part of a family that had gathered together to celebrate an upcoming wedding. The fire broken out while many relatives, including children, were sleeping. The smoke and fire was so intense, responding firefighters had to pull some of the family out.
The eight surviving victims were taken to area hospitals where three, including an 8-year-old girl, were listed in critical condition.
The other five, including a 6-year-old boy, were stable with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. Neighbors said all they could do was watch helplessly as the tragedy unfolded.
"There was flames coming out of the second story windows," Queens Village resident Chris Costantino said. "The firefighters got here around 12:10 and they were pulling the people out of the windows. It was bad."
Neighbor Laura Bligen was overwhelmed by the chaotic scene.
"I saw at least eight people come out of the house and I was shocked that this small house could hold so many grown-looking people," Bligen told CBS2's Sanchez. "I just couldn't understand how people were able to get out, get out of the house."
The community mourned outside the burned-out home, trying to make sense of how a tragedy could happened to such a loving family.
"It's very sad. They're very nice people. We live very good and I'm heartbroken. It's very sad," neighbor Angie Nandkishun said.
"I feel so bad about it. For those good people to lose their life, it's hurtful," neighbor Vishnu Datt added.
The cause of the fire, which did not immediately appear suspicious, remains under investigation.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)