JAMAICA, QUEENS (PIX11) – A family has been torn apart after a fire ripped through a Queens home and killed a 1-year-old boy.
First responders were called to the home on 106th Avenue in Jamaica just before 11 p.m. Sunday. After the fire was put out, they found the baby unconscious and unresponsive in one of the top floors of the home, police said.
The boy, identified as Jason Eli, was rushed to a hospital, but he could not be saved.
The school where Eli’s mother works started a GoFundMe page to help support the grieving family.
“Our school is raising money for teacher’s assistant Renatha Lewis, whose son Jason Eli died tragically in a fire on May 14, 2023. Jason Eli was only 1 year old. He is survived by his mother, father and two siblings. The family has also lost their home and all possessions. They are in dire need of support at this time,” the fundraising page states.
The FDNY Fire Marshal will determine the cause of the fire. The investigation remains ongoing.
Department of Buildings inspectors were also called to the scene Monday morning to evaluate the structural stability of the home. Inspectors said they found significant fire damage in the attic, including charred rafters, holes in the roof, and holes in the ceiling below the attic.
They also discovered the single-family home had been illegally converted into 5 single-room units, according to the DOB. A full vacate order was issued as a result, per the DOB.
The American Red Cross offered relocation assistance to those displaced by the fire.
DOB issued five violations to the property owner related to the single-room units. DOB officials said they had not received any complaints about the property prio to the fire.
