Double fire horror
3 killed, kids hurt in 2 boros
Two fires left three dead and 20 people injured — including several children — in less than seven hours in Manhattan and Queens late Saturday and early Sunday, according to authorities.
The first blaze struck just before midnight at a single-family home on 211th Street near 93rd Avenue in Queens Village — where two elderly grandparents were killed along with an adult granddaughter who heroically tried to save them, sources said.
Harleen Kaur, 32, had initially escaped the blaze, but ran back in and died along with her grandmother, Ragvir KaurKainth, 82, and grandfather, Pyara Kainth, 87.
“She came out with her husband and her kids,” said Kaur’s devastated brother, Param Singh. “She was trying to rescue my grandfather and grandmother.”
The blaze critically injured another three, including Kaur’s 8year-old girl. Another five were hospitalized in serious condition, including a 6-year-old boy.
The extended family was staying at the address in anticipation of the wedding of Singh’s older brother this weekend.
“It’s kind of a nightmare,” said Singh. “I still can’t believe this happened.”
About seven hours later, another horrific inferno broke out on the 29th floor of The Heritage, a 35-story building on Fifth Avenue near East 110th Street in East Harlem, leaving 12 injured, including two young kids who are in critical condition.
The fire filled the halls with acrid smoke, forcing firefighters to grope their way through pitch darkness to reach the victims.
“Clearly, zero visibility is a challenge for our members, they’re operating in the dark,” said FDNY Deputy Chief Michael Gala. “A lot of it is by sense of heat, making your way to the room. And your sense of feel, which is how we recovered our victims.”
A 6-year-old girl in cardiac arrest and a 1-year-old girl suffering respiratory distress were among the dozen people rushed to area hospitals, Gala said.
An adult woman was also in critical condition, while nine others were left with less serious injuries, according to officials.
The FDNY managed to quash the flames after about an hour.
Fire marshals are working to determine the causes of both blazes, but said neither appeared suspicious.