This is the room where Octavia Kinard was found dead from the fire.
The charred remains of the home where an elderly couple died in an East Flatbush fire left no reminder of the duo inside.
The two-story brick home was completely scorched by a fast moving blaze that officials said was triggered by a power strip at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday.
On Sunday, neighbors remembered the elderly couple as giving people who kept to themselves.
"She would always give me money," said Freddy Semple, 34, referring to 71-year-old neighbor Octavia Kinard. "She was always looking out for me."
Kinard and her husband, Lord Kinard, 76, died inside their second floor bedroom, officials said.
Kinard took care of her husband, who struggled to move due to an unknown ailment, Semple recalled.
"They're quiet people," Semple said.
During the fire, Semple and another Good Samaritan tried to rescue the couple with the help of a ladder. They were able to save a woman on the roof but were unable to yank the couple through a window.
FDNY officials said the fire was started by a faulty power strip on the first floor. There were no operational smoke alarms inside the home, authorities said.
Meanwhile, officials held a fire alarm giveaway near the scene to prevent similar tragedies.
"We do not want the holiday seasons of lights to be replaced with the lights of emergency vehicles responding to a fire," said Brooklyn Borough Preside Eric Adams, who arranged the event.
The majority of fire deaths are due to inoperable smoke alarms and faulty wiring, he said.
"This is a wakeup call for all of us," the Brooklyn pol added. "No one wants to lose a family member around any time of the year."
Electrician Joel Fischer warned people not to rely on extension cords.
"It's cheaper to call in an electrician to come install a new outlet...than to lose a life," he said.
For the holiday, he recommended people buy LED Christmas lights that use less power and give off less heat. Those lights should be plugged directly into the wall unplugged when no one is home, he added.
"That is the best quick fix," Adams agreed.
The borough beep urged the city's Department of Consumer Affairs to check stores to make sure no unsafe extension cords are being sold.
After the press conference the crowd of roughly 50 people surged forward to get free smoke detectors. But there weren't enough for everyone.
Adams said his office will do more alarm giveaways in the coming weeks both downtown and in East Flatbush.
Patsy Rochard, 65, who saw the fire, said she plans to use the alarm as added coverage for the one already installed in her home.
She remembered the Kinards fondly.
"They usually decorate the house so nice for Christmas," Rochard said.
No comments:
Post a Comment