A two-story row house in Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, was engulfed in a four-alarm fire on the evening of February 9th, resulting in the tragic deaths of a mother and her newborn baby girl, who was only 17 days old. Additionally, a 22-year-old man was critically injured and is fighting for his life. City officials have revealed that the basement where the mother and daughter resided did not have proper occupancy permits, with illegal alterations potentially being a significant factor in the tragedy.
The blaze broke out around 6:45 p.m. on February 9th at 83-34 Dongan Ave in Elmhurst. The fire quickly spread to two neighboring houses, becoming intense and escalating out of control. John Esposito, the commanding officer at the scene from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), stated that upon arrival, firefighters witnessed three individuals jumping out of rear windows to escape, while two others were rescued by firefighters using ladders. However, as the flames rapidly progressed, a firefighter fell through the floor into the basement while trying to extinguish the fire, prompting the commander to order a full evacuation of the building.
Officials highlighted that the basement was rapidly flooded with nearly four feet of frigid water and debris from the collapsed structure, making the rescue operation extremely challenging. Initially, rescuers discovered the body of the mother, 34-year-old Miguelina Alcantara, who was pronounced dead on the scene, but her daughter Emma was initially unaccounted for. Firefighters tirelessly searched for hours and it wasn’t until Wednesday afternoon, after heavy machinery cleared the rubble in the basement, that the infant’s remains were found.
Records from the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) indicate that the residence was only authorized for use as a single- or two-family home, with no approval for the basement to be used as living space. Complaints were lodged with the city’s 311 service as early as 2022 about people residing in the basement, but inspectors failed to gain entry for inspection on multiple attempts, leading the complaint to be eventually closed administratively.
Councilman Shekar Krishnan and other watchdogs pointed out that illegal partitioning of homes and using basements for living spaces illegally can heighten fire risks, posing serious dangers to residents and firefighters alike. Fire department officials also stated that unauthorized alterations often block escape routes, increasing the difficulty of rescue operations and life-threatening risks.
This fire incident has rendered at least 45 people homeless, affecting 14 families and 47 residents across three buildings. The American Red Cross has provided temporary housing and emergency assistance to the displaced families. At least three individuals remain in critical condition, including the 22-year-old man with severe burns, five others sustained injuries from jumping out of windows to escape, and four firefighters were injured during the rescue efforts.
Building department engineers have issued orders to demolish the fire-damaged structure and assess the safety of surrounding buildings. Fire investigators are still probing the cause of the blaze, while the city’s medical examiner’s office will determine the official cause of death for the mother and daughter.
Commander Esposito on-site with the FDNY expressed that this fire was a simultaneous multi-point ignition, rapidly spreading, making the rescue operation highly dangerous. “This is a devastating loss for the family and the community, and our firefighters are deeply saddened, as they went above and beyond to save lives.”