Kingsland Fire Devastates Eight Families

137 Kingsland Avenue and neighboring buildings stand burned and empty after the fire on December 15. *Photo credit: Sophia Heit*

One hundred sixty-eight firefighters and emergency medical services personnel rushed to 137 Kingsland Avenue, where a raging fire destroyed eight households on December 15. The fire began around 4 a.m. and quickly spread between neighboring buildings, injuring seven people, including two firefighters, and leaving thirteen adults and one child with nothing.

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) determined that the fire was accidental and caused by food on the stove. It took the FDNY until past 7 a.m. to control the fire. Some households went up in flames, while the water damage destroyed others.

The impacted residents are receiving shelter and assistance from the Red Cross. However, family and friends have put together GoFundMe campaigns to offer more support.

Victoria M. started a GoFundMe for Lisa and Kaitlyn Cusumano, who lost everything, including their cat, in the fire.

Jaycee Collado started a campaign for their mother and brother, Jacqueline and Jayden Ortiz Collado.

Joe Wasserman began a GoFundMe for their sister, Sherry Wasserman.

“Despite doing all we can to support her, none of us can imagine the heartbreak, loss, and grief that she is experiencing,” Joe Wasserman said on the campaign.

Vanessa Dilworth began a GoFundMe for Sandra Nydegger, a single mother with two cats.

While supporting your neighbors through this difficult time, you should also know how to keep your home safe during fire season.

More than one-third of fires occur during winter months. Lately, battery fires from micro-mobility devices (e-bikes, mopeds, etc.) have increased, but many fires are also due to holiday-related festivities.

The FDNY states that cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires; unattended cooking accounts for 33 percent of this. Frequently, the cook becomes distracted and leaves the kitchen.

The other fire culprits are electrical defects and combustible items too close to a heat source. Exercise caution with candles, heaters, and Christmas trees.

Also, double-check your fire alarm. More than 33 percent of homes are unprotected due to nonfunctional alarms.

The fire department provides a complete list of fire safety publications on their website: https://www.nyc.gov/site/fdny/education/fire-and-life-safety/fire-safety-educational-publications.page.

NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez published the Residential Fire Emergency Response Guide this year. Itis a helpful tool to prevent displacement and inform tenants of their rights after a fire.

The guide gives tips on what to do if you receive a vacate order, what to do about your utilities, and how to document damage for future insurance claims.

View the complete guide here: https://council.nyc.gov/jennifer-gutierrez/fire-emergency-response/.

The families impacted by the fire on December 15 have lost everything.