New focus on fire safety following fatal Midwood blaze
After the worst fire to hit the city in seven years tore through a Midwood home on Saturday, March 21, Brooklynites are mourning the loss of seven children and looking for ways to prevent fatal fires in the future and educate families about fire safety.
“This is the largest tragedy by fire that the city has had in seven years,” said Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro. “It’s a tragedy for this family, it’s a tragedy for this community, [and] it’s a tragedy for our city.”
According to Nigro, the midnight fire started because of a malfunctioning hot plate that was left on overnight, a common practice among Orthodox Jewish families observing Sabbath.