Flatlands House Fire Claims Resident’s Life
FLATLANDS – Last night, a fire tore through a two-story home in Flatlands, leaving a woman dead from smoke inhalation.
The FDNY received a call about the fire at 1666 East 49th Street, between Avenues M and N, at 1:09 am. Responding with 12 units and 50 firefighters, the FDNY had the blaze under control by 2:28 am.
When firefighters were searching the two-story residence, they discovered owner Esther Gee, 67, suffering from severe smoke inhalation. Gee was transported to Beth Israel Hospital by EMS for treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival, said police.
Two other residents managed to escape the flames.
Back at the scene, firefighters administered first aid to Gee’s dog after the fire was under control. The New York Rescue Response team posted a video on Twitter, which can be seen below:
Brooklyn: 1666 East 49 St. @FDNY operating at a second Alarm Fire in a private dwelling, 1 serious civilian injury and 2 minor FF injuries pic.twitter.com/j2F1arcNem
— NYRRT (@NYRRT) July 2, 2018
Ms. Gee was the owner and resident of the nearly century-old home since at least 1983, according to property records.
An investigation of the cause of the fire by the Fire Marshall is currently underway, but the tragic fire isn’t being treated as suspicious at this point.