A roofing job on a quiet Astoria block exploded into chaos Wednesday when a propane torch allegedly sparked a blaze that tore through four attached homes on 42nd Street. The fire broke out around 11 a.m. while what neighbors described as renovation work was underway. Everyone inside managed to get out with their pets, and firefighters knocked down the flames without any reported civilian injuries, but the block was left rattled and multiple families suddenly without homes.
Police arrested Spring Valley resident Luis Wilfrido Simban, 29, at the scene and charged him with reckless endangerment. He was issued a desk appearance ticket, according to CBS News New York. All four homes were ordered vacated after the fire, and the American Red Cross is assisting at least 17 people affected by the blaze. The house where the fire started was reportedly unoccupied at the time and undergoing renovation.
Officials' account
FDNY Deputy Chief Jeffrey Meister told CBS News New York that investigators were looking into “possible... illegal construction work” at the site. He noted that using a torch on a wood-framed roof is especially risky and flat-out not allowed.
“So if they were doing torch work on the roof of the building, just be mindful that it is a wood-framed building, and you're not supposed to be using a torch on a wood-frame building,” Meister said.
What the rules require
New York City has strict rules for open-flame roofing work. Torch-applied roofing and other hot-work operations generally require FDNY permits, along with a trained fire guard who holds a Certificate of Fitness. The rules also call for specific safeguards, including keeping clearances from combustibles, posting hot-work authorizations and maintaining a fire watch after the job is finished. The FDNY's guidance spells out when permits and F-60 or G-60 certificates are needed and what precautions must be followed during rooftop torch operations, according to the FDNY.
Aftermath for neighbors
Residents described a tense morning as smoke and flames climbed across the row of attached homes and fire crews swarmed the block. Later, they watched as building inspectors taped off the damaged units and ordered everyone out. Displaced families have been moved into temporary shelter and relief services while city inspectors and fire marshals continue their on-site review of permits and procedures. Officials have not said whether additional charges or civil violations will be filed as the investigation continues.
Legal fallout
Simban's reckless endangerment charge carries real criminal exposure under state law. Under New York Penal Law § 120.20, reckless endangerment in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor when someone “recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person,” according to New York Penal Law. Prosecutors could seek additional charges or civil penalties depending on what the FDNY and Department of Buildings conclude in their inspections.
Investigators with the FDNY fire marshal's office and the NYPD say their work is ongoing and that they will determine whether the renovation work complied with city rules. For now, neighbors are adjusting to temporary housing while city agencies coordinate support for those who lost their homes in the blaze.
