‘Glad to be alive.’ Family recounts harrowing moments during Mount Vernon fire
Yashema Samuels, her fiancé Densley Green, and their 6-year-old child, Carter, are currently looking for a two bedroom in the Mount Vernon area.
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A family of three is recounting the scary moments during Thursday’s late-night fire in Mount Vernon that claimed their home on Elm Street.
Yashema Samuels, her fiancé Densley Green, and their 6-year-old child, Carter, are currently looking for a two bedroom in the Mount Vernon area.
Samuels and Carter were home the night of the fire. Carter was unable to fall asleep and ended up waking his mother up upon hearing the fire alarm.
"He said, ‘Mommy, the fire alarm is going off.’ That's when I jumped up and went into my kitchen...and my kitchen was in flames," said Samuels.
She quickly brought Carter outside to safety and then returned to save her phone and car keys from the flames.
Upon trying to exit the burning building again, the door jammed, and she was unable to escape.
A good Samaritan heard her screaming for help, and was able to help her get out of the building.
"I was glad to be alive," said Samuels. "But it was a scary moment."
After exiting the second time, Samuels met Jim Killoran with the Fuller Center who was on site.
The Fuller Center for Housing of Greater New York works to provide shelter and necessities for families in need.
"Christmas, Hannukah, the holiday...Having a place and a home. These good people need a home," said Killoran.
The families housing accommodations end on Tuesday. Anyone that has any houses available to rent out, or clothing can contact The Fuller Center http://www.fullercenterny.org or email DART@fullercenterny.org.
Family members of the victims have also set up a GoFundMe page for anyone looking to donate directly.
The fires left 45 residents displaced. The first fire was at 80 Gramatan Ave. around 11:30 p.m. Thursday night. About 14 people were displaced by that fire. Hours later, fire crews responded less than a mile away on Elm Street.
