Brooklyn tenants frustrated at landlord after firefighter falls through decaying floor

A Brooklyn family is speaking out against their landlord after the floor of their apartment collapsed while a firefighter was standing in the bathroom, sending him crashing to the basement.

News 12 Staff

Apr 19, 2022, 9:52 PM

Updated 897 days ago

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A Brooklyn family is speaking out against their landlord after the floor of their apartment collapsed while a firefighter was standing in the bathroom, sending him crashing to the basement.
Mildred Gonzalez and her mother Ana Tapia say their family of seven lives in the apartment at 1439 Ocean Ave. where the floor collapsed on Sunday. The family says it was a terrifying experience watching the floor crumble beneath a firefighter.
Gonzalez says on Sunday around 3 a.m. before the collapse, she heard a loud noise in the apartment. She says she went to the bathroom to see what was going on, and that's when she saw the floor swaying back and forth.
Gonzalez says the movement of the floor caused her to fall, so her daughter called the fire department.
The family says when the firefighter stepped foot onto the bathroom floor, it came crashing down, sending him to the basement. The firefighter was OK from the fall. 
The Department of Buildings says it found significant water damage and rotted beams where the collapse happened. 
Mildred says for years they've had issues in the apartment, from mold and rats to infrastructure problems. She says despite complaints to her landlord, nothing has been done.
Gonzalez says she's speaking out after this incident in hopes that the landlord will finally do something to fix the issues in their building.
The family is being assisted by the Red Cross, who put them up in a hotel. The family says they only have a few days left to stay there before they have to figure out where to go next. 
There's no word yet on when they'll be able to return to their apartment.
News 12 reached out to the management company Lilmor Management to see when the floor of the apartment will be fixed and when the family will be able to move in.