Infernos Envelop Queens

In the first few days of this new year, Queens has been enveloped by a series of fatal fires, most of which were sparked by candles or dry Christmas trees.
The first occurred at a private home on Parsons Boulevard. And although the cause of the blaze is still unknown, a 39-year-old doctor, John Fotiades, was killed after jumping from a third-floor window in an attempt to save his life. Seven others were injured.
On Monday night, a dry Christmas tree was ignited, causing a fire to rage in a Corona building, resulting in the death of one man and injuring a woman.
According to fire and police officials, the fire began when a four-year-old with a barbecue lighter put the flame to the branches. It quickly spread to two alarms as escaping residents left doors ajar, thereby fanning the flames.
A woman was trapped in her third-floor apartment and was able to leap to safety, and three children crawled onto a nearby awning where rescuers, including 18-year-old Carlos Yascaribay, were waiting.
The restaurant worker and Queensborough Community College student was awakened by the smoke and quickly transported siblings Andrea Navarez, 13, Adrian, 4, and Andrea, 1 1/2 to safety. Yascaribay also rescued two dogs from the blaze.
One man was not as fortunate, however. The body of Fernando Arias was found in a third-floor apartment.
More than 100 firefighters responded to the inferno; six were injured. Currently, 19 adults and 7 children are homeless following the inferno.
A fire also broke out in a house in Astoria. It claimed the life of a 65-year-old woman.
The blaze, which began after midnight, quickly consumed the private home, fed by what police call "clutter."
As The Queens Courier went to press on Tuesday, yet another fire was raging in Long Island City.
In response to the preponderance of fires, Borough President Helen Marshall issued the following statement:
"In less than 24 hours, our borough has experienced deadly fires in Corona and Astoria and a major fire in Long Island City. This past weekend, another man lost his life after jumping from his blazing home in Jamaica. After experiencing a historic decline in fire fatalities last year, we have gotten off to a tragic start in this brand new year."
The Borough President also said that she would be meeting with EMS 911 officials to discuss emergency response times in the borough.
toni@queenscourier.com