A religious-rite candle caused a deadly Queâens fire that claimed the lives of two young brothers left home alone â with no working smoke detectors, authðŦorities said Tuesday.
Melted wax from the candle was found on the ðfloor next to the homeâs living-room sofa, which caught fire and sent flames and smoke through the St. Albans residence around 7:15 p.m. Monday, officials said.
The bodies of John Kavanagh, 11, anð·d his brother, Andrew, 6, were found on the stairs leading up to the second floor of the Tioga Drive home, authorities said.
One boy had reached the top, âĪwhile his brother made it only halfway, in their desperate attempt to reach safety, officials said.
âParents who are living in a home with childrðen and do not have smoke detectors. Iâm not sure how they look at themselves in the mirror,â said Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.
There were no smoke detectorsęĶŦ on the first and second floors, and those in the basement failed to activate.
Ronald Joseph, 30, who rented the basement apartment, said the boys loved playing with their dog, whð ich also perished in the fire.
Neighbor Carmen Ford, 77, who wouę§ld baby-sit the kids, said, âItâs very devastating. I canât take it.â
The boysâ mother, Marie Policard, 42, was at work at tðŽhe time, authorities said. Itâs unclear if the candle, one of many in the apartment, was lit by her before she left or by the boys afterward.
Vincðent Davis, who works with Policard at a health clinic, said, âðShe lost everything. Thatâs the only thing she ever worked for â the only thing she talked about â her two boys.â
Orlanzo Saunderðs, 33, ę§ was in an attic he rented when the fire started.
âI broke ðout the window with my hand .â.â. and I jumped through the window and then I dropped onto the â roof,â he said.