A bride and her 6-year-old niece were among about 20 people injured in a fire in Elmhurst, Queens on Sunday morning that blew occupants from windows for hours of safety after a celebration ended marriage, authorities and family said.
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“People couldn’t go out the windows because of the doors. They were jumping out the window from the top, ”15-year-old neighbor Mike Paucar told The Post.
Flames erupted at the home at 41-46 Hampton Street at around 7:44 a.m., the FDNY said. Twenty-two civilians and a firefighter were taken to hospitals in the area, officials said.
The newly married couple’s family members Elizabeth Altamirano and Patrak Farjado said they celebrated at the residence until around 4 a.m.
Jefferson Altamirano, 16, said his sister and brother-in-law were sleeping inside when they heard a loud boom.
“They still don’t know what [caused it] but they say it’s a gas leak, ”he told the Post.
First responders brought the blaze under control at 8:29 a.m., the FDNY said.
Paucar said he saw up to 10 people jump out of the third floor window. The windows on the other floors were covered with metal security gates.
“They were breaking the air conditioning that was up there and they started to jump,” he said. “All you’ve seen are people jumping out of the top window. They land on the ground, some of them got injured. ”
Video of the blaze filmed by another neighbor, Sandra Alvarez, showed flames engulfing the back of the house. Another clip showed a woman crying and consoling two young children.
Alvarez said she came out after hearing an older woman and children screaming.
“She was asking for help. She said ‘Children, children, children. Help the kids get out, ”said Alvarez, 49. “She was worried about people stuck in the house. I think they were stuck on the stairs and had to get out of the attic. ”
“It was like a movie. They had smoke on their faces. It was pretty scary, ”she said.
Altamirano said the newlywed had run three times to save the children.
“He had to run back and do as much as possible. He couldn’t put out the fire. He said he made three trips to get inside, ”Altamirano said. “He gets up and takes his baby out and goes inside for his stepson and when he comes out and tries to go up the stairs were filled with smoke.”
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“We had a blast until the DJ left,” he said. “We were supposed to come back today for the wedding walk. We were going to do it in the aisle but we can’t do it anymore. ”
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