ByEyewitness News 
Monday, February 16, 2026 4:50AM
ELMHURST, Queens (WABC) — An 83-year-old man died in a fast-moving fire in Queens on Sunday night.
Flames burned through the building on 78th Street in Elmhurst just before 7:30 p.m.
Firefighters found the man in a smoke-filled rear bedroom and pulled him out. Despite efforts to save his life with CPR, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The FDNY faced two critical challenges – a non-working hydrant and a car parked on a hydrant at the scene.
The fire was eventually placed under control. The cause is under investigation.
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