WPIX – December 18, 2016
by ASHLEY SOLEY-CERRO
BROWNSVILLE, Brooklyn — A grandmother has died due to injuries suffered in a blaze at a Brownsville high-rise apartment took the life of her 1-year-old grandson, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said Friday.
Alexandra Melo, 40, and 1-year-old Ivan Paez died as a result of the 13-floor fire on Wednesday at 260 Mother Gaston Blvd., officials said.
First responders found Paez unconscious and unresponsive. He died that day.
Adams did not say when Melo died.
An 8-year-old boy, 17-year-old girl, 20-year-old woman, 22-year-old man and 32-year-old man were also hospitalized, police said Wednesday. At the time their injuries were described as non-life threatening.
Adams reported Melo’s death at a news conference, and through Twitter, Friday afternoon.
The deaths have prompted Adams to renew his requests for a burn center in Brooklyn, he stated.
“I’ve allocated over $4M in capital dollars to build the first burn unit in #Brooklyn. I’m asking @NYGovCuomo to help us make this happen,” he tweeted.
Wednesday’s fire broke out around 8:30 a.m., officials said.
It was under control in about an hour, but not before apparently gutting the unit.
Images showed a barely unrecognizable and blackened home after earlier video captured smoke billowing from the complex as horrified onlookers screamed.
The cause remains unknown.
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