By Sandy Eller – VIN News
Just over 12 hours after neighbors reported a raging fire at the Azan home to the FDNY, fire marshals have confirmed on the FDNY twitter page that the fatal blaze that took the lives of four family members was caused by an unattended menorah.
According to the FDNY, working smoke detectors were present in the home at the time that the three alarm fire occurred.
Neighbors confirmed to The Daily News (http://nydn.us/2AVbwny) that the family lit a large oil menorah in the street-facing living room window on Chanukah.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams observed a moment of silence just after 5 PM tonight in memory of Aliza Azan and her three children, ages eleven, seven and three, as he lights the menorah tonight at Brooklyn Borough Hall.
Adams will also be repeating a call he made nearly three years ago after the death of the Sassoon children in a Friday night fire for the creation of a Brooklyn based burn unit.
City Councilman Chaim Deutsch called on city residents of all religions to make sure never to leave holiday decorations or candles unattended, whether they are electrical or live flames.
“Before you go to sleep each night be sure that tree lights are unplugged and candles are extinguished,” said Deutsch, who also stressed the importance of having a fire safety plan and having working smoke detectors on every level of every residence.
Please say Tehillim for Shilat bas Aliza (16) who is critical, Daniel ben Aliza (15) who is critical, Avraham ben Aliza (13) stable, and Yosef ben Ahuva Masuda – the father who is critical.
Per #FDNY Fire Marshals: Cause of today’s fatal 3-alarm fire, 1945 E 14th St #Brooklyn was accidental, unattended lit menorah. Smoke alarm present and operational pic.twitter.com/mJmtsQgZ3S
— FDNY (@FDNY) December 18, 2017
Perhaps after further investigation more information regarding the fire’s cause will become available.
Please, could the Rabbonim and the teachers in every community continue to review the halachos and/or excellent curricular materials pertaining to fire and other Sakanas (potentially dangerous situations) with men, women and children of all ages.
Rabbi Marlow, zt’l, stated that one must do everything possible to save a life! We’ll do what we must, and may Hashem comfort and quickly heal the Azan family.
potential passers by still on the streets. This is Persumi Nissa. Also I don’t believe anyone would have lit the Menorah so late for young children. Doesn’t make sense. People who can’t get home until very late should light a small portable Menorah wherever they expect to be detained for at least 30 minutes to an hour. That’s yotzi the mitzvah & Persumi nissa!
My father had the evening shift together with a lot of frum yidden at the post office and came home after 1am and lit the menorah than, my mother woke us up to participate in the lighting of the menorah . There are lots of people lighting that late.
I thought the menorah only needs to burn for 30 minutes. So before leaving the house or going to sleep, it should be extinguished
It seems unlikely to me. Not impossible, but unlikely, and a good excuse to promote “safety” or whatever. FDNY first responders are amazing heroes, but the fire inspectors are city employees like everybody else, and each one has his agenda.
https://www.gofundme.com/official-azan-family-fire-fund
I agree with #8. At first, I thought it was impossible, but, yes, some people work late & therefore light much later on, so the Menorah is still burning!!!!
Just such a tragic tragedy!!!!
Where is the previous report that state it was a boiler that blew?
If the smoke detectors were working, what else could have been done as prevention?
Obviously it is a gezeira from Hashem
say they lit the menorah at 7 or 8 and it burns till 9 or 10. if at 9 it started to heat something nearby it takes hours of smouldering for that something to actually burst into Flame.
It seems unlikely that the Menorah was still burning at that time…not impossible, but it is a very convenient “reason.” Shabbos platas, Shabbos timers, Shabbos candles are all potential fire hazards, but so is any electric appliance, including TV’s, fridges, & electric stoves.
FDNY, your men & women are incredibly brave and dedicated, but don’t just look at the obvious when determining cause.
לרפואת
יוסף בן אהובה מסעודה
שילת אהובה בת לוזה עליזה
דניאל בן לוזה עליזה
אברהם בן לוזה עליזה
Why Hashem why, this is so sad
This is a bad day for all of us , korbanos of Rosh Chodesh , innocent pure souls , we need to improve and also learn fire safety , I ordered some stairs worth 28 that you need to have I close to windows in case you are in 2 or 3 story home , a stair like this can save a life. Hope all communities around will speak about fire drills , emergency plan that can literally save lives
some people work late hours & don,t come home till like 11pm or 12am so those that work late hours might still have the menorah burning at 1.30 or 2am.
It’s the easiest thing for them to blame it on…I don’t believe it at all.
Shilat bas Aliza (16) who is critical,
Daniel ben Aliza (15) who is critical,
Avraham ben Aliza (13) stable,
and Yosef ben Ahuva Masuda – the father who is critical.
Hashem gave us seichel also, not just command us to do Mitzvos that may cause us harm.
No menorah is burning at 1:30/2am…for insurance or liability this is what has been given to the media…
In 2009 I had a fire and they tried to play the same game but an independent test showed it was the ball bearings in the heater plug
May the neshamas have aliyahs and be a guta betta for the rest of us and may the father and surviving children make a quick and complete recovery in all ways.
Please give the names of family members who need a refuah shelema.
Thanks!
please Rabbonim tell us how a Menorah could take the lives of three yiddishe kinderlech?
soooooooooo sadddddd im crying:(