Three die in New York fire

A PLANNED trip to Paris on Tuesday to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss has ended in tragedy for a Trinidadian family in the United States. Three members of the family perished in a fire at their apartment in Queens, New York, on Thursday morning. The deceased were identified as Seepersad Ramkhalawan, 53, his wife Maladaye, 45, and their 14-year-old daughter Sarah. Seepersad and Maladaye migrated from Trinidad and Tobago 20 years ago to start a new life in New York.

According to reports, Sarah was asleep on a couch near the stairs of the two-storey house when she was awakened by the crackling sounds of fire. She tried to get her parents out of the house, but she died with them, officials reported. Sarah’s body was found along with those of her parents in the back bedroom of their upstairs apartment. Officials said the fire was first reported at about 6.50 am on Thursday. The fire department said 106 firefighters with 25 pieces of equipment responded to the blaze, which was brought under control an hour later. Fire officials said they are looking at the living room as a possible starting point for the blaze. They have ruled out arson.

Investigators believe the fire may have started by candles in the room. The house also had bars on the windows that could have prevented an escape. The second apartment on the floor was empty. A neighbour, who would only identify herself as Sharon, said her daughter noticed the fire two doors down when she opened her door for some fresh air. “She said, oh my God, Mom, fire,” said the 65-year-old woman. “When I went to the back, I said, oh my God. I thought we were going to burn here. The fire was hanging over the window. I ran out with all my kids and I said don’t come back in the house.”

The woman, who has three children, said the blaze was quiet. “Because it was not windy, I didn’t hear any sound. I didn’t hear anything.” Another Trinidadian, Raymond Gobin, 48, who lived downstairs with his wife and their family of five, said his sister-in-law, Maladaye and her family had just moved in a week ago. They had sold their house in Queens in an effort to save enough money to buy a laundromat. Ramkhalawan, who emigrated from Trinidad more than 20 years ago, worked as a janitor at Abraham Joshua Heschel High School in Manhattan.

The couple had been in the middle of several milestones, he said. Maladaye had just celebrated her 45th  birthday on Wednesday and the couple was going to celebrate their 25th anniversary with a trip to Paris on Tuesday. Maladaye had also recently undergone quadruple bypass surgery on her heart. “It’s been hectic for the whole family,” said Gobin. “This is like,  everything’s over. The food is out of the pot and it’s in the fire.” Breaking into tears, he said, “It’s moments like this (you realise) you should try to love them when they are around. I hope to God they’re in a better place.”