Overview

• The fire broke out early Sunday morning at 8725 Chevy Chase Street in Jamaica Estates, Queens, killing three men aged 45, 52, and 67, and injuring four others.
• FDNY officials revealed the residence was illegally converted, with makeshift walls, extension cords, and blocked exits that allowed the fire to spread rapidly.
• Firefighters responded quickly to the three-alarm blaze, but hazardous building conditions complicated their efforts to control the flames.
• City fire marshals and Department of Buildings investigators are examining the fire's cause and the home's code violations, including the absence of working smoke detectors.
• FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker called the incident a 'tragic Easter morning' and emphasized the critical importance of residential fire safety compliance.