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Man Dead in Elmhurst Apartment Fire, Two Others Injured

Firefighters on the scene at 88-35 Elmhurst Ave. early Monday morning (Citizen App)

July 29, 2019 By Christian Murray

A man was killed in a fifth-floor apartment fire in Elmhurst in the early hours Monday morning.

The FDNY was called out to a blaze at 88-35 Elmhurst Ave. at around 3 a.m. and discovered 50-year-old George Ortega inside his apartment and two other residents all suffering from smoke inhalation.

Ortega was transported to Elmhurst Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The FDNY also aided a 30-year-old man who was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition. A 36-year-old woman was also inside the apartment and is at North Shore Forest Hills Hospital in stable condition.

The FDNY has yet to determine the cause of the fire and an investigation remains ongoing.

88-35 Elmhurst Ave. (GMaps)

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Sara Ross

My heart goes out to his family but with all of these apartment/house fires, you never hear anybody say “I heard the smoke alarm”. There’s no reason not to have at least 1 smoke alarm in the apartment/house. It’s NYC law to have them in apartment buildings.

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yikes

Prepare for the bombardment or dislikes from people who hate the government and the FDNY

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JHeights my whole life

I have learned in Jackson Heights post that if you leave a comment saying “rest in peace” or “my condolences ” you get more dislikes than likes. Anyway thank you Sara Ross for your kind words.

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