A 65-year-old man was killed in an early Friday morning house fire in Sunnyside Gardens. Photo courtesy of Lauren Springer
March 7, 2025 By Bill Parry
A 65-year-old man was killed when an early morning house fire gutted his home in the Sunnyside Gardens historic district on Friday.
The FDNY received a call just before 3 a.m. of a blaze at 39-11 46th St. and dispatched 12 units with 60 firefighters and EMS personnel that jammed the block between Skillman Avenue and 39th Avenue.
Arriving units reported a heavy fire on the first floor that spread to the second floor of the two-story private dwelling, buffeted by high overnight winds.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Springer
The civilian was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS, and one firefighter with minor injuries was transported to New York-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition.
The fire was brought under control at 4:04 a.m., and FDNY fire marshals are investigating to determine its cause.
Inspectors from the city’s Department of Building were called to the scene for a structural stability inspection later in the morning and found extensive fire damage including charring and partial collapse of the floors and stairs. The DOB inspectors also observed minor fire damage to the front door and windows of the attached property at 39-09 46th St. As a result, the DOB inspectors issued a full vacate order to 39-11 46th St., and an emergency order to seal the property in the interest of public safety. Inspectors from DOB’s Forensic Engineering Unit have been requested for a follow-up structural stability inspection.
