An infant has been identified as the person reported missing after a four-alarm fire in Queens, authorities said.
Police confirmed the deceased infant found at the scene was a 1-year-old girl. Authorities also confirmed the child and a 34-year-old woman who was previously found dead were mother and daughter.
The 34-year-old woman was identified by police as Miguelina Alcantara, a resident of the home on Dongan Ave.
What You Need To Know
A 1-year-old girl was identified as the person reported missing after a four-alarm fire on Dongan Avenue in Elmhurst
The child and 34-year-old Miguelina Alcantara were mother and daughter
The fire broke out around 6:45 p.m. Monday and quickly spread to two neighboring homes
The fire broke out around 6:45 p.m. Monday at the two-and-a-half-story building, according to the FDNY. The flames quickly spread to two neighboring homes, prompting a four-alarm response.
Cleanup has been underway for about two days along Dongan Avenue, where charred debris and structural damage remain visible after what officials described as an intense and rapidly spreading fire.
“An uncontrolled rapidly extending fire not just from one building but three buildings,” Chief of Department John Esposito said.
The fire grew so dangerous that the incident commander ordered firefighters to pull out and switch to an exterior attack.
“The decision was made by the incident commander due to the heavy fire and rapidly extending fire to remove our firefighters from the building and conduct an exterior operation,” Esposito said.
After evacuating, officials learned that two people were trapped in the basement.
Esposito said firefighters reentered the building and located Alcantara, who had died. It was not until Wednesday afternoon that crews found the body of her infant daughter.
“We know the neighborhood, and we know the family are devastated. And you have to know our firefighters are devastated also,” Esposito said.
Four people jumped from rear windows, and two others were rescued from the second floor, according to the FDNY.
Seven civilians were injured, including one who was seriously hurt and another who sustained life-threatening injuries. Four firefighters also suffered injuries. At one point, a firefighter fell through a hole and had to be rescued.
Matthew Lie, who lives next door, described the aftermath.
“I’m kind of traumatized from this especially when I hear sirens and smoke,” Lie said.
He said he saw one man who had escaped with burn injuries.
“He had to roll on ice to get the fire put off,” Lie said.
The Department of Buildings issued full vacate orders to the three damaged properties due to hazardous conditions, displacing about three dozen residents.
According to the Department of Buildings portal, a complaint was filed in 2022 for the home on Dongan Ave for a suspected illegal basement unit conversion lacking proper egress.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.