The scene still smelled like smoke a day after a fire claimed the life of a 75-year-old veteran ¬– who, after helping his wife and pregnant daughter to safety, went back into his two-story home for his cell phone.
“It’s tragic and shocking,” said Cecilia Besley. “I feel for his family and his neighbors. I can only imagine what it must be like. This is a close-knit community so I really feel for the neighbors.”
The all-hands blaze erupted at 6:20 a.m. inside 179-22 Zoller Road in St. Albans. Fire Department officials say the cause was an electrical short in a wire in the basement ceiling.
Nathaniel Lagree, 75, a Korean War veteran, helped his ailing wife Betty to safety, as well as his eight-month pregnant daughter, Patricia, but then ran back into the one-family house. Firefighters reportedly found Lagree, who was not breathing, in the basement. He was taken to New York Hospital Queens, where he was pronounced dead.
His wife and daughter were treated, mainly for smoke inhalation, according to sources.
“My aunt and cousin live down the block, they knew them,” said Victoria Hart, who lives in the area. “He died because of his cell phone, that’s just terrible.”
FDNY spokesperson Frank Dwyer told The Courier, “Once you’re out, stay out.”
“If you get out of the fire, don’t go back in – there’s nothing in your house that is worth it – this demonstrates it more than ever.”
– With additional reporting by Steve Mosco
