On Tuesday, May 23, a 60-year-old woman died in a raging house fire while trying to save her dog on Long Island.
Kashmira Patel, a 60-year-old woman, traveled to Long Island with seven other family members. They stayed at her mother’s two-story house in Helix, Nassau County, prior to her father’s funeral.
But now, after Kashmira Patel died trying to save her dog in a burning house, the family must prepare for a new funeral.
according to CBS news, the fire broke out at about 3:00 am. And Kashmir actually got her mother out of her house safely and she made it to the front door herself.
The victim’s niece, Kush Patel, said: “She was a devoted mother and an overall loving family member. She always put her religion, her parents first, and the rest of her family first.”
But Kashmira decided to go back to the burning house for her dog. ABC7‘s report. And unfortunately, both Kashmira and her beloved pup didn’t make it out alive.
Kush Patel said: “She went to pick up the dog, but thought of her daughter and came back.”
Firefighters reportedly tried to save Kashmira’s life but failed.
Chief Fire Marshal Michael Utaro told CBS News: “Police and firefighters tried to get in. It was unbearable. The situation was too harsh. The conditions were too far. They went to the house to search for missing family members. I couldn’t get in.”
However, Kashmira’s family claimed that one of the hydrants did not work at all and it took 20 minutes for fire engines to arrive.
“They were standing there watching, that’s all. It was like a movie.” Kashmira’s younger brother Tarun Patel said.
The Nassau County Fire Marshal claimed the house was already on the verge of collapse due to the fire when they arrived.
The exact cause of the fire is currently unknown and an investigation is underway.