A man injured in a house fire in the East New York section of Brooklyn has died from his injuries, turning a blaze into a fatal one as investigators work to determine what happened. Adding to the questions at the scene is an unusually heavy police presence outside the home, which authorities had not yet explained as the night wore on.
Before the death was confirmed, the man had been fighting for his life. He was rushed to Brookdale Hospital in critical condition after the fire, and first responders had been seen on the ground working desperately to save him, performing chest compressions and placing a mask over him in an effort to keep him alive.
That effort ultimately was not enough. Word came into the newsroom that the man injured in the fire had died from his injuries, a loss confirmed by the FDNY and police. What had started as a rescue at a burning home ended with a life lost and a fire scene that authorities were treating with heightened attention.
The flames did not stay confined to a single home. A neighboring house was also damaged as a result of the fire, with a for-sale sign standing out front and a collapsed roof visible on the inside. The damage next door underscored how far the fire reached before crews were able to bring it under control.
The scene drew a notable law enforcement response that stood out even after the flames were knocked down. There was a police presence in front of the home, and there had been even more officers at the property earlier. Reporters reached out to police to find out why so many officers were there, but had not yet heard back, leaving the reason unclear.
For now, the cause of the fire remains under investigation, and officials have not said what sparked the deadly blaze or explained the heavy police interest at the home. As the inquiry continues, the East New York block was left with a man dead, a damaged home next door and a series of unanswered questions.