Officials: 93-year-old woman killed in Queens house fire; violation issued for illegal e-bike repairs
NEW YORK -- A 93-year-old woman died in a fire in Ozone Park, Queens, on Friday.
Flames tore through the building on 101st Avenue around 1:30 p.m.
Maria Rodriguez says just as she was rescued from a second-floor window, flames burst out of the door just feet from her.
"I didn't wanna die burning like that. I'd rather just break my legs and walk with whatever I have to walk with, but to burn like that? I don't wanna die like that," she said.
She woke up from a nap Friday afternoon to popping noises then saw smoke. That's when she rushed out to her window, where she sat on the edge, calling for help before fire crews came and rescued her and her beloved dog, Penny.
"It was crazy 'cause I came out the window, and I was holding on with one hand and my leg inside, and I felt my leg hot. I was burning because I was choking," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries and released.
Her neighbor who she shared the second floor with died. She has been identified as 93-year-old Kam Mei Koo.
Fire officials say they recovered an e-bike from the building. Rodriguez's husband, Thomas, would see an e-bike in the hallway near the door that burned.
"I left this morning for work and I noticed the bike was plugged in, and it stood in my mind, should I have unplugged it? So it's been like that a few times and no problems, nothing," Thomas Rodriguez said.
The Department of Buildings issued a violation Friday for illegal e-bike repairs that took place in the building's basement.
Sam Esposito, president of the Ozone Park Residents Block Association, visited the first floor two years ago after getting complaints from neighbors. He says the landlord stored what seemed to be hundreds of electronics and batteries for an electronics repair business.
"It was very hot in there, and I remember saying to him, you need air conditioning in here because I was sweating that day. There was no ventilation," Esposito said.
Neighbors say the 93-year-old woman who died was the landlord's mother. CBS New York's Kristie Keleshian reached out to the landlord, but he declined to comment.
Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire.
