FDNY: Hot plate caused fatal fire in Throgs Neck
<p><span style="color:#000000">A hot plate was the cause of a fire that killed a father and a daughter in the Bronx, police say. </span></p>
News 12 Staff
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Jan 14, 2018, 10:07 PM
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Updated 2,302 days ago
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A hot plate was the cause of a fire that killed a father and a daughter in the Bronx, police say.
The fire broke out at Sunday inside an apartment building at 2821 Dewey Ave. in Throgs Neck.
Nelson Rojas, 62, and his 13-year-old daughter Yolanda died at Jacobi Medical Center as a result of the fire.
The victim's mother, Natalie Sosa says she was in the middle of a custody battle with Yolanda's father and had not seen her daughter in years.
A court case was postponed earlier this month because of a snowstorm.
She has now returned to the United States from the Dominican Republic to arrange a funeral for her 13-year-old daughter.
At least two firefighters also suffered minor injuries while extinguishing the blaze.
The fire marshal's office says the hot plate was near bedding before it malfunctioned and caught fire.
Tenants tell News 12 the building has lacked heat over the years, which leads people to use unconventional method of heating.
