In a tragic incident that occurred on February 18th in Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights on 67th Street at 1237 address, a three-alarm fire broke out in a residential building, leading to the death of a woman. Records from the New York City Department of Buildings indicate that the building had been unlawfully occupied by squatters for at least two years and had experienced multiple fires in the past.
According to David Sims, the district commander of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), the fire department received the alarm at 8:03 a.m. and responded within approximately three and a half minutes. Upon arrival, they found “intense flames” inside the sealed building. Due to the building being sealed off with cement blocks, efforts to extinguish the fire were hindered.
Sims mentioned that in the past two years, there had been five fire incidents in the same building. Upon investigation, firefighters discovered the body of a woman, approximately 40 years old, in the rear alley. She had constructed a makeshift shelter at the basement entrance and was residing there illegally.
Further inspection revealed the unstable condition of the building’s structure, especially on the top floor, with signs of decay on the sides where the fire originated. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Building inspectors subsequently examined the stability of the structure, with reports suggesting a potential demolition due to structural instability.
Following the fire, State Senator Chen Hsueh-li rushed to the scene. Addressing the issue of squatters, he expressed his commitment to advancing relevant legislation in the legislature to safeguard property rights and ensure that the safety of communities is not compromised by illegal occupants.
Public records from the Department of Finance and Buildings indicate that the building was purchased for $1.1 million in 2017 by Zafar Iqbal, remaining vacant since 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2022, the owner lodged complaints about the deteriorating condition of the vacant property, citing a collapsed fence allowing unauthorized access.
In June 2023, complaints regarding the illegal conversion of the ground floor into 10 rooms and similar alterations on subsequent floors were made against the building. In November of the same year, the Fire Department requested the Department of Buildings (DOB) to conduct inspections for structural stability, leading to an evacuation order.
However, in July and September 2024, the Fire Department reported the building being reoccupied by squatters who made temporary dwellings using debris, mattresses, and boards inside. Inspectors found the building cluttered with garbage, sheets, fabrics, and plastic sheets, posing significant safety hazards.
Following the fire in November 2024, due to the severe instability of the building, the Fire Department again requested intervention from the Department of Buildings for inspection. Concurrently, a Chinese man named Cheng Chen was arrested on charges of arson and unlawful entry.
Back in 2023, local residents had repeatedly raised concerns about the illegal occupation of the building. Mr. Zhu Jieyi, residing at 1237 67th Street, told a reporter that due to a prolonged legal dispute with the original owner, squatters had unlawfully occupied the building, increasing in numbers and causing disturbances in the neighborhood.
Video footage provided by Mr. Zhu showed a Chinese squatter damaging their security cameras with a wooden plank. Despite multiple complaints to the police, the authorities struggled to remove the squatters entirely, leading to continued disturbances in the area.
Mr. Zhu lamented the lack of effective action by law enforcement and government agencies despite paying hefty property taxes. He highlighted how the presence of squatters had plagued the local businesses and residents for two years, impacting community safety significantly.
CBS reporters interviewed the property owner Zafar Iqbal in April last year. Iqbal disclosed the financial burden of a $6,000 monthly mortgage payment and the substantial loss of $900,000 from the March 2024 fire.
Due to the civil nature of squatting issues, criminal prosecution posed challenges. Local councilor Chuang Wen-yi proposed Intro. 907 legislation in June 2024, aiming to collaborate with the NYPD, HPD, and related agencies to release quarterly reports on illegal squatting in New York City, quantifying the severity of the problem for public awareness.
Chuang advocated for the differentiation between squatters and tenants through the S8995 legislation introduced by State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. She emphasized the imperative to criminalize squatting behavior to empower law enforcement to arrest squatters rather than penalizing property owners for changing locks.
However, both proposals failed to advance to the voting stage according to the records of the New York City Council and State Assembly.
Reflecting on the recent fire and the persistent squatting issue, Chuang Wen-yi acknowledged the preventable tragedy and urged the reinforcement of legal and enforcement mechanisms to tackle illegal squatting citywide, alleviating the distress faced by communities and working-class families. She stressed the urgency to pass Intro. 907 legislation, calling for collective action among council members.
The fire incident and squatting problems underscored the inadequacy of current regulations in protecting property owners’ rights, leaving landlords in a protracted struggle against evicting squatters. The squatters themselves suffered dire consequences due to the deplorable living conditions. Discussions on these occurrences had sparked debates on WeChat groups, reflecting a wide range of opinions.
Blogger Ling Fei from 8th Avenue/Dyker Heights suggested that small landlords should unite to form an influential group to advocate for policy amendments and emphasize their values in addressing such pressing issues.