"The fire broke out just before 9:30 a.m., according to News 12 New York. Tenant Lewis Dawkins told the station he woke up to the smell of smoke, saw flames in a neighbor's basement room and ran upstairs to alert others, later suffering mild smoke inhalation."
"Illegal basement and cellar apartments have long been a safety headache in New York City, particularly when storms hit or fires break out. The city's Basement Apartment Conversion Pilot Program was set up to help bring some of those units into compliance by offering loans and technical assistance to homeowners."
"Complaints filed with the Department of Buildings between 2011 and 2014 alleged the house had been illegally converted into a rooming house. The outlet reports the DOB told them those complaints were ultimately closed after inspectors were denied access to the home twice."
A basement fire in East Flatbush injured one person and forced tenants to evacuate. The fire started around 9:30 a.m., with residents reporting unauthorized rooms in the cellar. Tenant Lewis Dawkins alerted others after noticing smoke and flames. Firefighters extinguished the blaze in under 30 minutes. Illegal basement apartments pose safety risks, prompting city programs for compliance. Previous complaints about the building were closed due to denied access for inspections. The American Red Cross is assisting displaced residents.
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