Investigation Underway After Two Died In Garage Fire At Home In Jamaica, Queens
QUEENS, NEW YORK (November 2, 2024) – Two people have tragically died in a Jamaica, Queens garage fire at a home on 91st Avenue.
New York City officials are saying that the incident took place around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. Paramedics were called to the scene after getting reports of a fire.
They found a man and a woman inside the home. Both were unresponsive and ultimately pronounced dead. Authorities believe that the deceased may have been squatters.
A full investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Queens Residential Fires
Fires remain one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death in the United States. According to the National Safety Council, “One- and two-family home fires account for 59.1% of civilian deaths and 54.3% of injuries. Apartment structure fires account for 12.4% of deaths and 20.8% of injuries. For overall home fires, the 2022 rate of 7.5 deaths per 1,000 reported home fires was 6% higher than the rate of 7.1 in 1980, but a decrease of 5% from 2021.” There are a number of common causes of residential fires.
- Cooking accidents
- Electrical malfunctions
- Heating equipment
- Appliance malfunctions
Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain their buildings in a reasonably safe condition. This includes being compliant with all NYC fire codes. Failure to maintain a property in a reasonable condition could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of residential fires tend to suffer very serious injuries.
- Burn injuries
- Organ damage
- Lung damage
- Death
Residential fires are often highly preventable. Sadly, property owners will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if someone on their property dies. This is why it is so important that evidence is properly preserved after any fire. Victims of these incidents should understand that they do have rights. The family of any person who died in a garage fire may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.
Investigating Queens Residential Fires
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of the people who died at this Jamaica, Queens home. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Queens residential fire? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
