A terrible apartment fire in Queens left one man seriously burned and several others suffering various injuries late last month. The blaze erupted in Long Island City just after 10PM in the first-floor apartment of a building located on 46th Avenue. Witnesses at the scene of the fire say they heard what sounded like an explosion and shortly thereafter began to see and smell smoke.
Several individuals were trapped inside their apartments and had to escape using exterior fire escapes. At least one man was trapped inside the apartment building and had to be rescued by FDNY responders. He was severely burned and unable to move. The man was immediately rushed to the burn unit of a nearby hospital suffering from life-threatening injuries. Several other victims were treated for less-serious injuries including smoke inhalation. Making matters worse, the apartment itself was filled with clutter that firefighters had to struggle through in order to reach the man.
Investigators are looking into the unsafe conditions (improper storage of items in stairwells and hallways) which may have led to if not contributed to the creation of this apartment fire in New York City. Accumulations of debris amount to more fuel for fires which can turn relatively small fires into raging infernos within seconds.
The responsibility to keep hallways and stairwells, clear of debris falls is on the landlord/property owner. If their inaction or disregard for safety creates dangerous conditions for residents or visitors to an apartment building, they can be held financially liable for any injuries suffered in the event of an emergency.
If you or a loved one was injured in an apartment fire in New York that was caused by a landlord’s or property owner’s negligence, you have legal remedies available to you. A qualified apartment fire lawyer in New York City can help you recover the financial compensation you deserve for your lost property, physical injuries, and lost time from work.
Call the experts at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 to get the legal help you need right now.