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New York Boy Dies In Abandoned House Fire
TRICIA CRUZ
WIVB
Reprinted with Permission
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - Authorities say the boy didn't belong in the house.
But he was trapped and died when fire broke out late Friday.
April O'Harrow is hugging her children and giving them a warning.
She just found out a young boy was killed in a vacant house fire down the street from where she lives.
"My sister and her boyfriend were at the back windows here, trying to get in. My sister's boyfriend actually succeeded in trying to get in but got blown back by the flames," said O'Harrow.
The victim's step father tells News 4 his step son was 8 years old.
A 3rd grader at Harry Abate elementary in Niagara Falls.
O'Harrow said, "He wasn't a bad kid and didn't deserve to be lost like this. His father is in a great deal of pain and so is the rest of the family."
Several neighbors and the boy's step father tell News 4 he was in the house with two other boys, including his 10 year old brother.
Neighbor Peggy Sue said, "I came up and saw a cloud of smoke and heard a big boom."
An off duty fireman happened to be in the area when he saw the fire.
He dialed 911, but the fire moved quickly and by the time firefighters arrived, the house had been consumed by flames.
The Fire Chief Daniel Boland said, "The doors are totally disintegrated. The fire got all the way to the third floor."
Boland says the boy was found in a back room on the first floor.
Everyone here says this is a tragedy that could have been prevented for many reasons.
"It's abandoned and the landlords don't care about if it's safe," added O'Harrow.
Boland said, "It's not a place for kids to play in."
According to Mayor Paul Dyster, the City of Niagara Falls passed an ordinance within the past year requiring all out of state property owners hire a local property managers.
But he says parents are also responsible for keeping an eye on their children.
Mayor Dyster said, "If you know that there are kids some place, like playing in a vacant building , if they're your kids, stop them from doing that."
The fire department does not have a cause for the fire.
Copyright WIVB.com
WIVB
Reprinted with Permission
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - Authorities say the boy didn't belong in the house.
But he was trapped and died when fire broke out late Friday.
April O'Harrow is hugging her children and giving them a warning.
She just found out a young boy was killed in a vacant house fire down the street from where she lives.
"My sister and her boyfriend were at the back windows here, trying to get in. My sister's boyfriend actually succeeded in trying to get in but got blown back by the flames," said O'Harrow.
The victim's step father tells News 4 his step son was 8 years old.
A 3rd grader at Harry Abate elementary in Niagara Falls.
O'Harrow said, "He wasn't a bad kid and didn't deserve to be lost like this. His father is in a great deal of pain and so is the rest of the family."
Several neighbors and the boy's step father tell News 4 he was in the house with two other boys, including his 10 year old brother.
Neighbor Peggy Sue said, "I came up and saw a cloud of smoke and heard a big boom."
An off duty fireman happened to be in the area when he saw the fire.
He dialed 911, but the fire moved quickly and by the time firefighters arrived, the house had been consumed by flames.
The Fire Chief Daniel Boland said, "The doors are totally disintegrated. The fire got all the way to the third floor."
Boland says the boy was found in a back room on the first floor.
Everyone here says this is a tragedy that could have been prevented for many reasons.
"It's abandoned and the landlords don't care about if it's safe," added O'Harrow.
Boland said, "It's not a place for kids to play in."
According to Mayor Paul Dyster, the City of Niagara Falls passed an ordinance within the past year requiring all out of state property owners hire a local property managers.
But he says parents are also responsible for keeping an eye on their children.
Mayor Dyster said, "If you know that there are kids some place, like playing in a vacant building , if they're your kids, stop them from doing that."
The fire department does not have a cause for the fire.
Copyright WIVB.com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Doug on
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While this isn't a classic case of squatting, sadly, this can be taken as an example, for all of those that harp and preach about defensive only tactics on abandoned and vacant structures, of why we don't treat them as such. Granted, from the article it seems the FD immediately knew there was possible entrapment, there was just nothing they could do, but you just never know what or who is inside when dealing with these types of derelict buildings.
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Permalink Reply by Fabulous Heather Days of Summer on
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PARENTING
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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for all of those that harp and preach about defensive only tactics on abandoned and vacant structures, of why we don't treat them as such.
Yep. Just because the house is vacant doesn't mean it always is. Risk vs benefit analysis for sure, but one can never assume the structure is vacant by looks alone.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Oomkes on
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You are correct. Can't argue one bit.
But, since we are using anecdotes as evidence, there was a cold storage warehouse in Worcester that was empty.
And 6 firefighters died.
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Permalink Reply by emodfd on
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no one new it was empty, and it was set by squatters who had just been in there.
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AMEN! We hear that more and more and we are an aggressive interior department , especially on a house fire. Bury up , put it out and most of the others problems go away! It can be done safely, but never without risk! For those who want to squirt water through a window.......go get a job at Walmart and be safe.
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