Blaze victims rebuilding their lives

Twenty three families displaced by the six-alarm blaze that decimated a Far Rockaway apartment building over the weekend are being placed in “more permanent temporary housing” as they begin to rebuild their lives.
According to Amanda Pitman, spokesperson for the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (DOHPD), the families will be housed “in one of four family centers” as the DOHPD “works with them through programs to get them into permanent housing.”
Although there were no fatalities in the Saturday, February 3 blaze, the lives of 129 people went up in smoke as the Neilson Street fire, which started on the fifth floor of the six-story apartment building where about 35 families lived, began at 11:45 p.m.
It took 230 firefighters to control the inferno, which left 27 members of the FDNY and five residents injured.
“I can’t believe the blaze I saw,” said Lanetta Johnson, 63, in published reports. “It was going so fast. Everybody was running. Children were crying. Water was pouring like a river in the hall.”
Johnson, who had lived in the building since 1979, was housed, along with 11 other families, in the Westway Motor Inn in Astoria.
“It was very sad,” said Westway manager Renee Weinberg, who said that despite having lost everything, most were “very grateful they all got out.”
On Tuesday, February 6, the families, who are being helped by the Red Cross, were moved out of the hotel and were being placed in the family centers.
They were also given debit cards for food, clothing and other emergency supplies.
“My prayers are with the displaced families during this difficult and unforeseen moment,” Congressmember Gregory Meeks said. “I’m comforted in knowing that with this dangerous fire every life was preserved and no casualties were had.”
Meeks’ office has been helping the victims of the fire with the replacement of immigration documents and state identification cards, among other things. He has also made both English speaking and Spanish speaking staffers available to help the victims.
“I will make the resources of my office available to anyone who is in need of immediate assistance,” Meeks said. “I will continue to work with city and state agencies and local elected officials to do whatever we can to help these residents get back on their feet.”
A clothing drive has been started at the Church of Nazarene, located in Far Rockaway.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation and due to the amount of damage, the building will reportedly have to be razed.
Anyone wishing to aid the victims may call 877-REDCROSS or visit www.nyredcross.org.