A fire that started 3 a.m. on Tuesday in the Mount Vernon area of the Bronx killed a family of four, and injured three firefighters, after a car parked three-feet from the two-story house caught fire, spreading the flames to the house, USA Today reported.
Mount Vernon Fire Chief Ted Stevenson confirmed the victims as Alcedo Urena, 60, his wife Nancy, 39, and two children Jesus, 21, and Mariselis, 18 died after reportedly being trapped inside their basement due to a locked door, USA reported. Another son Raymundo, 17, was injured and is being treated at a hospital.
Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Burke Jr. said the car belonged to the eldest son, Jesus Urena, USA reported. Gabriel Matias, 18, a cousin of the deceased family, said he watched a neighbor's video that showed smoke coming from the car followed by two explosions from the car as the fire started.
The family was originally from the Dominican Republic and had been living in the house for two years. Alcedo, the father of the family, have lived in the U.S. for many years before bringing his family to join him, according to USA.
Alcedo's nephew, Dari Garcia who lives in the Bronx, received a phone call from his sister saying there had been an accident at the house, according to USA. By the time Garcia arrived, the house was completely submerged in flames.
"I'm still in shock," Garcia said, "My uncle was a really happy person. It's hard to see all my family members around crying for someone they really loved."
Stevenson said the fire started between 3 and 3:15 a.m. and arriving firefighters found a "heavy wall of flames."
One victim was found inside a basement door, two at the foot of the steps in the basement and the fourth near a back door of the house, he said. Officials also stated the two story house was transformed into apartment units illegally, and the owner of the house, Michelino Vicario, owes the city $3,046 in unpaid taxes, according to city records. He may now face charges.
According to officials, Alcedo Urena's brother lived on the top floor of the house with his wife and two sons, an unrelated family lived on the middle floor, and the family that died lived in the basement, USA reported.
Stevenson said the door leading outside from the basement was locked from the inside and outside, and one resident tried to drag his brother out of the basement but the brother had succumbed to the fire. USA reported. The rescuer has not yet been identified, but may be the younger son, Raymundo.
An arson investigator have joined with police and are currently trying to determine the cause and will check the house for code violations, USA reported.
