Tragedy in East Flatbush: Mother and son killed in overnight apartment fire
Neighbors say the mother and son were originally from Barbados and had lived in the building for decades.
Neighbors in East Flatbush say they are still in shock after an overnight fire killed two people inside their apartment building. Authorities say the victims were an 80-year-old woman and her 59-year-old son.
The FDNY says the fire started around 11 p.m. Monday at an apartment building on Kingston Avenue.
Neighbors say the mother and son were originally from Barbados and had lived in the building for decades.
“It’s terrible to hear that," said Ben Marakowitz-Svigals, a neighbor who lives on the third floor. "I know there’s been other fire incidents in this building over the past few years, so I wonder if people are doing everything they can to keep apartments safe and, you know, prevent fire hazards."
“It is very tragic, especially when you know the people and it’s nice people because the son and I, whenever I meet him on the street, we always talk and have a little conversation,” said a neighbor who asked not to be identified.
Rafael Maleta, who lives across the hall, said he called 911 when he saw the smoke.
“Smoke, you couldn’t see across the corridor," Maleta recalled. "It was very, very dense. I was just worried that this fire could come to my apartment and kill me and my daughter. That’s the only thing that mattered. What happened there was bad luck."
Neighbors living in surrounding apartments are being told it is safe to stay, but the city has issued a partial vacate order for the third-floor apartment where the fire broke out. Residents are also being given air purifiers.
Some neighbors who lived on the same floor say they did not hear any alarms.
“It would have been nice to know something about it rather than just coming out here and finding out about it from you,” said Marakowitz-Svigals.
A firefighter was also taken to the hospital and is expected to be OK.
