Firefighters battling a three-alarm blaze in an abandoned Brooklyn house on Tuesday morning discovered the body of a person believed to be a squatter, fire officials say.
Neighbors believe the body is that of a man who was squatting in the abandoned house at 1237 67th St. in Dyker Heights. Officials could not confirm the identity by press time. Residents say the man was asked to leave on numerous occasions.
Fire officials say this is the third major fire at this house in the past year. One chief at the scene joked that they should just “station a unit in front of the building.”
Flames were leaping from the first and second floors when firefighters arrived at 8 a.m. on Feb. 18, prompting a second alarm on arrival. A third alarm was declared as the fire spread to a neighboring house between 12th and 13th Avenues on the quiet residential street, across the way from the Norwegian Christian Nursing Home.
Richard Rodriguez, a recreational aide in the nursing home, said he and others ran to warn neighbors of the fire danger.
“Fire was shooting from one house to the other, and some old mattresses and garbage were burning, so me and another guy ran to the house next door and kicked in the door to get people out,” said Rodriguez as he stood next to a young woman, who didn’t want to be identified. “Luckily we came because they were all sleeping, it was their day off.”
The fire could be seen for miles around as heavy fire and smoke poured into the air. More than 150 firefighters fought the blaze for more than an hour before they could bring it under control.
Several firefighters received minor injuries due to the fire and slippery ice conditions.
As firefighters searched the debris-strewn interior, they found the body of a person, believed to be a man, was found inside the first floor.
One neighbor, who identified himself only as Bob, said residents have complained to the city and community board over the past three years about the abandoned building being open and having had numerous fires.
“I’ve been complaining about this for over a year now, and we’ve had at least three big fires,” Bob said. “It’s just a shame that the house next door is damaged and now I hear someone is dead.”
Rodriguez reported that the house has had at least six fires, and people have been seen living in it.
“I was coming into work usually about 7:30 [a.m.], and then we saw the fire, and it’s not the first time, maybe six times,” Rodriguez said. “Now I’m just here with the woman, and she’s just worried about her three cats inside her home.”
It was not clear who owned the property or why the city had not moved to demolish the building. The cause of the fire is under investigation by FDNY marshals.
