A Staten Island neighborhood was engulfed in unease as a three-alarm fire ravaged multiple homes on North Burgher Avenue. The blaze, which struck yesterday, is currently being scrutinized by FDNY fire marshals due to its suspicious nature, with one man connected to the origin property now in custody. As reported by ABC7NY, the fire began in the afternoon and quickly spread to neighboring residences.
Officials disclosed that the fire initially ignited at the rear of 131 North Burgher Ave, eventually catching on to adjacent houses at 129 and 127. A massive FDNY deployment was necessitated, involving 33 units and over a hundred personnel. According to SILive.com, Deputy Assistant Chief David Simms of FDNY, during a press statement, described the fire as requiring a significant response due to its intensity. Fortunately, despite the extensive property damages, all civilians were accounted for, and no injuries have been reported.
As the FDNY and NYPD continued their investigation at the scene, a man was seen being taken into police custody. He had been seated near the site of the fire, clad in a blue bathrobe, before being handcuffed and escorted to an NYPD vehicle. This individual, a resident of the home where the fire started, did not resist the arrest, though charges have yet to be filed, and the FDNY has remained reticent about the reasoning behind the suspicion of arson.
"The fire is considered suspicious," FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief David Simms told ABC7NY. Neighbor Joe Parnell expressed sympathy for the suspect's mother, who was away during the incident, while Nancy Hagans, another neighbor, lamented the loss of her childhood home, which sustained significant damage. "Mental health is a big thing, and people should get help," Hagans told ABC7NY.
