LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) — A woman died and seven family members were injured after a fire ripped through a Long Island home early Tuesday morning, authorities said.
The blaze was reported at the two-story home at 252 Lafayette Ave. in Williston Park just after 3 a.m., trapping Kashmira Patel inside, officials said. The victims are in their 20s to 60s.
The injured relatives were treated for smoke inhalation at a local hospital. Firefighters used a drone over the wreckage to try to find Patel, whose body was eventually found inside the home, according to the family.
Patel and several others were in town visiting after the family’s patriarch passed away last week.
The family told PIX11 News it was angry it took so long to put out the fire.
“We were yelling ‘there’s a human in there,'” Bhumi Patel told PIX11 News. Patel said she was able to escape the fire. Kashmira Patel was her aunt. “We’re all just devastated, in shock.”
Relatives believe Kashmira Patel went back into the home in hopes of rescuing the family dog.
Nassau County firefighters said they arrived at the scene quickly but their efforts were hampered by a broken fire hydrant and a live wire. The fire was contained in about 90 minutes, leaving nothing but bricks and ashes.
It remained unclear what sparked the fire, but investigators do not believe the fire was suspicious.
Neighbors expressed their support for the Patel family Tuesday afternoon. “Everbody has come here to help,” Dr. Bipink Parikh explained.
