Ten people were injured, including one critically, and many others were displaced after a fire broke out in an apartment building in Freeport, Long Island early morning on Oct. 23. According to a Newsday report, the Freeport Fire Department responded to a call reporting smoke from a three-story apartment on Jay Street. When they arrived, firefighters got reports of people trapped in the building that contains multiple units.
Ten people, including three children, were transported to hospitals for treatment of smoke inhalation and burn injuries. They had to be rescued from the building. One person was said to be in critical condition and three other victims were in serious condition, officials said. About 100 firefighters, including those from other neighboring towns, worked together to bring the fire under control within an hour. No smoke alarms were heard or located in the building, officials said.
Injuries and Displacement of Residents
During a press conference Thursday, Freeport Fire Chief Anthony Sotira said the initial 911 call reporting smoke appears to have come from the adjacent supermarket and that when firefighters arrived, they saw people climbing on the fire escapes of the apartment building and fire venting out the front door. A resident informed them that a man was trapped in the basement apartment, where the fire originated, Newsday reports.
Sotira also said that the firefighters had no access to the stairs and decided to go through a window to rescue the trapped man. He was later hospitalized in critical condition. A 19-year-old man identified by Newsday as Sam Ortiz said he woke up to the sound of a smoke detector’s beeping and saw smoke coming from outside, below his window. He said he alerted his parents. The family had a smoke detector in the apartment, but it did not go off, he told the outlet. Ortiz’s father was one of four people who were hospitalized. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who were affected by this horrific fire.
The Importance of Smoke Alarms
Smoke detectors provide early warning of fires, allowing people to escape before smoke and flames spread. In New York City, where many residents live in multi-story buildings, smoke detectors play a crucial role in saving lives and preventing property damage. Early detection can reduce fatalities, minimize injuries and give firefighters more time to respond effectively.
New York City law requires smoke detectors in all residential dwellings, including apartments, one- and two-family homes, and multiple-unit buildings. Under the New York City Housing Maintenance Code (Administrative Code §27-2045), property owners and managers must install and maintain smoke detectors in each unit. The alarms must be located near sleeping areas and on every level of the dwelling, including the basement. Since 2019, the city has required smoke alarms with sealed, non-removable batteries lasting at least 10 years. Property owners and managers are required to provide and replace smoke alarms when necessary.
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. If you have been injured, it is in your best interest in such cases to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for your injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company.
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 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.newsday.com/long-island/fire-apartment-building-freeport-cqhn4mkj