Early Easter morning in Queens, a house fire claimed three lives and left another seriously injured. The fire originated on the first floor, quickly spreading to the second, exacerbated by blocked exits and makeshift walls. This home had a history of illegal conversions flagged by the Department of Buildings, which had attempted inspections multiple times since 2020. Neighbors recounted harrowing scenes of attempted escapes, indicating the dire situation as rescuers worked to address the blaze and the aftermath remains under investigation.
"These were all living spaces. The means of egress were substandard -- exits blocked, stairways blocked... very abnormal, and there's makeshift access to the second floor."
"Since 2020 its received multiple complaints about illegal conversions inside the home... inspectors tried to get in and could not."
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