Woman killed, 7 injured by fire in home

Family members treated, released

BY BRANDON DUFFY

A 60-year-old woman died and seven others were taken to area hospitals for smoke inhalation after a fire destroyed a five-bedroom, split-level home in Williston Park Tuesday morning, Nassau County Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said.

The victim was identified as Kashmira Patel in multiple reports. The cause of death is still being investigated, Uttaro said.

A fire in Williston Park at a five-bedroom split-level home on Lafayette Street killed one woman and injured seven others the morning of May 23, according to officials.

All eight people were members of the same family, Uttaro said. The seven survivors were released by the hospitals after being treated for smoke inhalation.

A 911 call for an active fire at 252

Lafayette St. was made shortly after 3 a.m. with the Garden City Park Fire Department responding first to the scene within 10 minutes in what was a fully involved fire, Uttaro said.

Seven people self-evacuated before telling first responders about one more person trapped in the house, Uttaro said.

First responders attempted to enter the home to rescue the victim but had to withdraw due to the worsening conditions, Uttaro said.

“Firefighters and police tried to make entry as best they can, but the conditions were too severe to make a safe entry, be able to get in and make some type of rescue,” Uttaro said.

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