According to reports, the New York Police Department is currently conducting an investigation into the fire that broke out on Forbell Street on Tuesday. The authorities suspect that it may have been an act of arson. The incident has left the local community in shock and has raised concerns about the safety and security of the area. More information is expected to be released as the investigation progresses.
According to the FDNY, the fire has caused multiple families to be displaced, and seven individuals have been taken to the hospital. Tragically, one person has already lost their life. Shocked neighbors recounted hearing screams for help from the tenants and witnessing them resorting to jumping out of windows to escape the flames.
As Sahil Uddin looked on, he witnessed the fiery blaze engulfing the stairwell, while his neighbors cried out for assistance.
According to Uddin, the fire seemed to have originated from the stairs and then spread upwards. However, he is uncertain about the exact cause of the fire, calling it “kind of odd.” While he speculates that it could have been started by cigarettes or something similar, he cannot say for sure.
As per the confirmation received from News 12, the ownership of the building is with Rafiqul Islam. Going through the court records, it has been revealed that Islam has been involved in at least three landlord and tenant cases this year. Out of these three cases, two were in Queens and one in Brooklyn.
During our investigation, News 12 was able to obtain a potential phone number for Islam, but unfortunately, our attempts to reach him were unsuccessful. As a result, we decided to visit the address listed for him on city records, but our knocks on the door went unanswered.
The upstairs apartment received numerous city violations due to the absence of carbon dioxide detectors and a faulty baseboard radiator.
According to a statement from CAMBA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing housing assistance and other services, they have urged the Kings County district attorney to prosecute any individuals found guilty of wrongdoing in this case. The New York City Police Department has confirmed that their investigation is still ongoing.
On Wednesday, the investigation scene was being examined by arson and explosion squads as well as police dogs.
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