NEW YORK (AP) – Three boys from the same family were killed early Monday in a Brooklyn apartment fire that may have been started by a stove left on for three days, authorities said.
The victims were 6, 13 and 17 years old. The older boys were the sons of Symah Matyash, a locally well-known chef. The younger child was their nephew and Matyash’s grandson, according to Isaac Abraham, a community representative.
Abraham called Matyash and his wife “exceptional individuals,” and said they were recovering from their own injuries while dealing with their loss.
“There are no words to describe,” Abraham said. “Children usually bury parents, parents don’t bury children.”
Fire Department spokesman Paul Iannizzotto said officials were investigating whether the stove was left on since Friday due to the observance of the Sabbath and Passover. Some Jewish people observe a strict religious custom that forbids certain activities, including turning on lights or stoves, during holy days.
The 13-year-old, whom Abraham declined to name, recently had his bar mitzvah. Abraham said the boys were “happy, well-educated, with a bright future in life.”
The Matyashs’ 21-year-old daughter, who was recently engaged, was hospitalized for minor injuries after jumping from a second floor window to escape the flames.
Another daughter escaped the building through the front door, Abraham said.
The younger child’s parents were not present when the fire occurred.
Five other people were taken to Long Island College Hospital after suffering smoke inhalation, and two firefighters were taken to Woodhull Hospital with minor injuries.
Abraham said the community was upset that firefighters took almost four minutes to arrive at the scene. “I can walk slowly from the firehouse to the scene of the fire and get there in under a minute and a half,” Abraham said.
Iannizzotto said there were no delays and the response time was better than the average of four minutes and 18 seconds.
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