A 67-year-old woman was killed after being trapped in a Plainview house fire early morning on Feb. 7. According to a Newsday report, the fire occurred on Sutton Drive. Officials said about 75 firefighters with nine departments arrived on scene and found the ranch-style house fully engulfed in flames. The woman was found dead inside the home after the fire was put out. Additional details about the victim’s identity, how she died and why she was unable to exit the home were not available.
No one else was injured in the fire. Fire officials said the blaze was challenging to fight because of below-freezing weather conditions and wind-blown snow. They also said they do not suspect that anything criminal was involved. We offer our deepest condolences to the victim’s family for their loss.
Fatal House Fires
In the United States, residential fires remain a serious public safety issue. In 2023, an estimated 344,600 residential building fires occurred, resulting in roughly 2,890 deaths and 10,400 injuries, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). The agency’s numbers also show that historically, there have been around 1,900 fatal residential fires per year, causing about 2,745 deaths and over 600 injuries between 2018 and 2020.
Fatal house fires most often occur in the late night to early morning hours, and risk is higher for older adults and males. Smoke alarms and escape plans — especially in larger dwellings, apartment buildings etc., — are critical because many deaths result not just from burns but from smoke inhalation and inability to escape.
Injuries from house fires vary widely but generally include:
• Smoke inhalation and respiratory damage, often the leading cause of serious injury.
• Burns of varying degrees.
• Trauma from falls or impacts while escaping.
• Secondary injuries from rescue attempts or while fighting the fire.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Depending on the factors that caused the fire, a number of parties may be held legally responsible for the injuries, damages and losses suffered by the victims. In such cases, a thorough evaluation is necessary to determine whether property owners, managers, utility companies or product manufacturers, etc. failed to meet safety standards. For example, a property owner/manager may be liable if they neglected to maintain smoke alarms, provide safe electrical systems or address known hazards. In some cases, builders or contractors may be held liable if faulty construction, inadequate firestopping or the improper installation of wiring contributed to the fire.
Manufacturers can also face liability if defective appliances, heaters or electrical components sparked the fire. In some instances, homeowners may share responsibility if they ignored clear risks such as overloaded circuits or improper use of heat sources. Determining liability typically requires expert investigation, including fire reports, inspection records and witness statements. Determining liability in structural fires is often complex and requires the guidance and counsel of an experienced New York personal injury lawyer.
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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