FDNY: Menorah sparked fire that killed mom, 3 kids
NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - Four members of one family, including three children, died after an overnight fire Monday in Brooklyn.
Fire investigators believe that a lit menorah started the fire. Neighbors said the family was known to light menorah candles in celebration of Hanukkah.
Police responded to a call at East 14th St. in Sheepshead Bay at about 2:15 a.m. First responders found the bodies of the four victims: Aliza Azan, 39, and three of her children, an Moshe, 11, Yitzah, 7, and Henrietta, 3.
Five other victims were taken to Staten Island University Hospital and Maimonides Hospital with varying injuries.
Azan's husband and their 16-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son were listed in critical condition. Their niece was also badly hurt. Two sons escaped with minor injuries.
"So often, tragedy strikes at this time of year, and the holidays make it that much more difficult because our communities should be celebrating, not mourning," Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in a statement.
Hours later, hundreds of mourners from the community followed a funeral procession in Brooklyn. Vehicles carrying the four bodies drove through the streets from a synagogue. They will be buried in Israel.
Five firefighters suffered minor injuries battling the fire.
Fire officials told Fox 5 News that it appears that the fire started in the front of the house and not in the kitchen area in the back of the house.
The FDNY said the home's smoke detector was activated.