FLUSHING, Queens (WABC) — NYPD detectives, inspectors from the Department of Buildings and the fire marshal have started a complex investigation into a deadly fire at a three-story building in Flushing, Queens, after it had been cited for illegal gambling and had a history of complaints for illegal conversions dating back to 1998.<\/p>\n
The fire on Monday killed four people,<\/a> including a 3-year-old girl.<\/p>\n Neighbors say they saw things escalate with the building two years ago when the original owner died.<\/p>\n They noted there have been slot machines brought inside and squatters stealing electricity, as just some of the problems for this building.<\/p>\n According to city records, the second and third floors of the building have been off limits as it was under a vacate order.<\/p>\n “The basement is simply divided into so many small units. It’s like a very, very tiny shoe box units so that you can easily put ten people living in that basement,” a neighbor said.<\/p>\n Neighbors say they’ve been complaining about squatters for years.<\/p>\n “They started using this building for free until they destroyed everything,” the neighbor said.<\/p>\n People inside found themselves jumping out of the windows to escape the unrelenting fire at the intersection of College Point Boulevard and Avery Avenue.<\/p>\n Two men, ages 61 and 51, a 62-year-old woman, and a 3-year-old all died, officials said.<\/p>\n “Really, really terrible, people losing their lives in this fire, including a very, very young child. Our hearts go out to the families,” New York Senator John Liu said.<\/p>\n In January, the Department of Buildings issued a violation to the owner of Avery Avenue for having “extension cords running throughout the hallway from first to third floors.”<\/p>\n “You know what they did do, those squatters, they kick the door open and they’re getting inside again. Again and again. It happens almost every year and no one is doing anything,” the neighbor said.<\/p>\n Back in 2020, a partial vacate order was issued for converting a two-family apartment into seven bedrooms with key locking devices to the bed, TV, cooking equipment and refrigerator.<\/p>\n The vacate order was for the second and third floors and was still active at the time of Monday’s fire.<\/p>\n The building had a history of complaints of illegal subdivisions and illegal conversions going back more than a decade.<\/p>\n “If there are long-standing violations, then this is something that needs to be followed up on more often by the authorities. Inspections make sure that people are not living in an unsafe situation,” Liu said.<\/p>\n 19 complaints were made to 311 since 2023 about the building including squatting and homeless encampments.<\/p>\n The building is now subject to a multi-agency investigation.<\/p>\n The names of the victims have not yet been released.<\/p>\n * Get Eyewitness News Delivered<\/a> <\/p>\n * Follow us on YouTube<\/a> <\/p>\n * More local news<\/a><\/p>\n * Send us a news tip<\/a><\/p>\n