A fire in South Ozone Park, Queens, affected a residential area this morning. Police sources told CBS New York that fireworks from a nearby Diwali celebration may have caused the fire. Around 2:25 a.m., residents on Lincoln Street woke up to heavy smoke as one house caught fire.
When the fire department arrived, three people had already exited the home, with two later treated for minor injuries. Mohiuddin Saif, a nearby resident and family member, described the situation to CBS New York, saying, "I was up and I smelled the smoke and saw the fire. Came running down, called my mother and father-in-law. They noticed the fire at the same time, too. So we basically all just ran outside at the same time." Saif also mentioned that he had reported fireworks earlier to the police but noted that no immediate response appeared to follow.
The fire also spread to a neighboring house, according to ABC 7 New York. Witnesses reported seeing heavy flames coming from the roofs as the fire damaged both structures. Police are currently investigating the incident and are looking into whether nearby festivities may have unintentionally caused the fire, though an official cause has not yet been confirmed.
In the aftermath of the fire, video footage captured boxes of fireworks left behind on the street. Residents affected by the incident are now working to recover any belongings that were not damaged. Saif told CBS New York, "That's when I called 911 and made a report. I was told that somebody would come and check. But then I was waiting, nobody came, nobody checked up," expressing concern over the response prior to the fire.
