Woodhaven fire victim searching for cats

Lisa Shaver was near tears on Saturday, February 14 as she hung flyers with photos of her two missing cats.
“Larry” and “Moe” went missing after Shaver’s home caught fire on Thursday, February 12 – one of 12 houses on 96th Street in Woodhaven that were engulfed in the five-alarm blaze, apparently spread by the day’s near 60-mph winds.
“I’m just grateful no one really got hurt,” said Shaver, 23, who was in Suffolk County, Long Island when the fire erupted. She had one other cat with her and two more were also able to escape.
When she got the call telling her of the blaze, she said, “I drove home as fast as I could.”
Wilson Penafiel remembers receiving a phone call as well.
“It was too late,” he said, “I couldn’t believe the house was burning.”
Penafiel, whose cousin is the owner of the home on 91st Avenue, said he had slept in the house only the night before.
Now, as his cousin travels back from Ecuador, Penafiel is in charge of the location. He was taking photos of the damage on Saturday and told The Courier that residents have not yet been allowed back into their homes.
“We’re waiting on the Department of Buildings (DOB),” he said, noting that he has no idea as to an estimate for the repairs. “It’s kind of sad.”
Though there were no fatalities, eight firefighters were injured in the blaze that FDNY officials say began in a cockloft.
“They [the homes] are all interconnected. It was one big open space and that combined with high wind conditions quickly spread the fire and it was a catch up operation the whole way,” said FDNY Assistant Chief James Esposito in published reports.
“The FDNY did a great job,” said Shaver.
The Red Cross was on the scene as well, assisting 26 adults, 10 children and the first responders. According to a spokesperson, one adult needed housing assistance, and the Red Cross may help him with longer-term housing if he needs it.
As a safety precaution, the DOB has ordered a sidewalk shed be erected in front of 91-02, though no emergency demolitions of any of the homes have been ordered.
Building owners now must submit engineering reports on the structures’ safety to the DOB, at which time the agency will “review and determine what the next steps are,” according to a spokesperson.
Despite the losses, residents are thankful.
“I’ve never realized how many people cared about each other around here,” said Shaver gratefully.
If you recognize Shaver’s cats, contact The Courier at 718-224-5863, Ext 204.