America
New York house fire kills seven children
Washington, March 21
Fire broke out in a house in New York, killing seven children and injuring another on Saturday, according to media reports.
A
woman, believed to the mother of the children, was injured in the fire
at the house in Brooklyn, CNN reported, citing police and the fire
department.
The fire burned the first and second floors of the
house, located near the Brooklyn College, the New York Fire Department
said on Twitter.
The flames, reported after midnight, were brought under control before 1.30 a.m.
The
accident apparently started with a hot plate that was being used to
keep food warm, which had been left on in the kitchen, New York Fire
Commissioner Daniel Nigro said.
A malfunction occurred with the
hot plate, leading to the fire, he told reporters, adding that there was
nothing suspicious about the fire.
The children were between five to 15 years of age and were all found in their bedrooms.
"This
is the largest tragedy by fire that this city has had in seven years,"
Nigro said. "It's a tragedy for this family. It's a tragedy for our
city."
The woman and her daughter who survived the accident saved
themselves by jumping out of the windows, according to Nigro. They were
in a critical condition at a hospital.
The authorities are having trouble reaching out to the father of the children who was not at home at the time of the accident.