Investigators for the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) say people should have never been living on the upper floors of a Queens structure where four people died during an apartment fire. According to NBC New York the fire occurred the afternoon of March 16. FDNY said the fire broke out on the first and second floors of the building.
Officials said four people were killed including a 3-year-old girl, a 62-year-old woman, a 51-year-old man and a 61-year-old man. Several others were injured, including two in critical condition. Two firefighters had to be extricated from the building after a staircase collapse led to a “may day” call. The firefighters are expected to recover. The investigation into this fire is still ongoing. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased victims and wish all those who were injured the very best for a speedy recovery.
Violations and Ongoing Investigation
The mixed-use building where the fire occurred had commercial businesses on the first floor and multiple apartment units on the two floors above, officials said, adding that the building had a long history of violations. Since 2020, the DOB had issued over 50 violations for the property, including gambling. Records show inspectors discovered the illegal gambling setup on the first floor in 2023, and issued a $25,000 fine.
In January 2026, the latest violation was for a “failure to maintain.” According to the report, city investigators found extension cords running from the first to the third floors and that discovery was shocking in itself since the DOB had issued a partial vacate order in 2020 for the second and third floors after finding illegal apartment conversions.
The department, at the time, had said no one should have been living up there, but several people still were. A multi-agency investigation into this fire is ongoing, DOB has said in a statement. Department officials also told NBC that they do not physically remove people from buildings where a vacate order is issued. Rather, it is up to the property owner/manager to prevent people from being in the space.
Why Illegal Apartment Conversions Are Dangerous
Illegal apartment conversions in New York City pose serious fire risks, often resulting from property owners/managers altering buildings without proper permits or safety upgrades. These conversions frequently create overcrowded living conditions, block exits and add makeshift walls that interfere with fire escape routes. In many cases, illegal units lack adequate smoke detectors, sprinklers or proper electrical systems, increasing the likelihood of fires and reducing the chances of safe evacuation.
Property owners/managers in New York City have a legal responsibility to ensure their buildings comply with housing, fire and building codes. This includes obtaining the necessary permits for renovations, maintaining clear and accessible exits, installing and maintaining fire safety systems and ensuring that all units meet occupancy and safety standards. Owners/managers must also conduct regular inspections and promptly address violations.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Whether you have been living as a tenant at a private apartment complex or in a public housing unit (NYCHA) (the Projects), please remember that you have legal rights. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of dangerous conditions, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company, or their lawyers, investigators, or adjusters.
For over 54 years, our skilled attorneys have established a proven track record of assisting injured victims. One of our clients — a hot water burn victim — secured $750,000 in damages from the property owner and manager. Our firm also obtained a $985,000 settlement out of a $1 million insurance policy for two people who suffered smoke inhalation injuries because the homeowner did not have smoke detectors installed and the $15,000 that was left on the insurance policy was for a person that we did not represent. Another of our clients recovered $2,500,000 due to a faulty space heater. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning, paraplegia cases and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
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Source: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/queens/queens-building-where-fire-killed-3-year-old-girl-and-3-adults-had-over-50-violations-dob/6477735/