A Guyanese man and his 12-year-old nephew died on Sunday morning after a fire engulfed their Brooklyn, New York apartment home.
Dead are 33-year-old Shawn Monderson and Ceimon Fraser, who both died from smoke inhalation.
According to the New York Newsday, the fire was reportedly started by a candle that was lit in another apartment in the building. Further investigations by the New York fire officials revealed that a smoke detector in Monderson’s apartment had been unplugged and the battery removed.
Monderson’s relatives told the newspaper that he and his nephew had only moved into the apartment last week.
Fraser, they said, was only living with his uncle, who was employed as a bus driver, because his mother had returned to Guyana.
Frank Monderson, uncle of Shawn Monderson, said that his nephew, who had just become a US citizen, was like a father to the 12-year old and he was upholding a family tradition of looking out for family members.
However, the family was left in a quandary since they are unsure if they can afford to pay for the funeral arrangements.
Meanwhile, Newsday said Sunday’s fire followed the death of five nationals from the Dominican Republic who perished in a blaze at the family’s Chelsea, Manhattan apartment on Saturday. In this fire a couple and three of their children died.
The lone survivor was a 10-year old who was hospitalised with critical injuries. The six family members were found unconscious huddled in the bathroom and bedroom of their apartment. Like Monderson and Ceimon, the five also perished from smoke inhalation, according to Ellen Borakove, spokeswoman for the city medical examiner’s office.
Saturday’s fire was the deadliest in the city since March 2007, when a fire in the Bronx resulted in the death of ten people.
Deepest sympathy to this family.
deepest sympthy to the family i would lake to donate 100 dollar
Sad stories,my regards to all.
So sad, searching for a better life and Death strikes.
My Heartfelt Condolences to the Family.
its tragic that we have to leave our country in search of a better life only to have your life snuffed out
my condolences to the family
Very sad, my deepest sympathy to all family members, fires happens every day/any where, carelessness is one of the main factors, searching for a better life and death strikes?, death did not strike because of his carelessness, someone was darn careless in leaving a candle in a home. Although it’s a sad incident, at least, the eight ball in Guyana did’nt get the chance to snuff out his life for a quick fix of drugs. Not a nice nice way of putting it,? It’s sad that they died, but understand it’s under a vast different circumstance.
One does’nt have to leave Guyana to have their lives snuffed out, them scums thiefs r snuffing out decent citizens lives right there for get rich lives and quick fixes, think about it.
My heart goes out to the families of those who perished.
Smoke detectors are in place for a reason. They can be annoying when people try to smoke in their apartment but they can and does save lives.
My sympathy to the family and friends , may their souls rest in peace stay strong my people.
My condolence goes out to the family, so sad.
My mom lives in Brooklyn, so one can easily understand why i feel deeply saddened by these fires. My condolences to the families and relatives of those who suffered in both fires.
Stan Bishop
ST. LUCIA
Let me blog again, commonsense is not used by some bloggers, it’s simple ,and a known fact that humans and all living things are not going to be on this earth forever, my beliefs are two sided, some deaths can be avoided, some can’t ,there’s untimely and timely deaths, all have to do from conception, others might have different thoughts about this matter, we r all different in our own unique way. Tragic things happens because of carelessness some happens because they were ordained to be.
Leaving one’s Country to reside else where, is not prevention of tragic happenings, some of which as I stated, can be avoided. There isn’t a Country without crimes, so it’s just a silly comment, if one states that leaving their Country for betterment and their lives are snuffed out in another Country was a bad move, let’s place the shoes on the right feet, this guy left Guyana for betterment, but a careless person left a candle unattended, and they should be charge for negligence.
After rereading this terrible death, the family stated that they r uncertain how they r going to finalize financially for the burials, since we here are blogging daily, is there somewhere we can all pool some monies to help this family,? I would appreciate a tele # or address so I can send what little I can contribute for them to be properly buried, let’s see what can be done, we r our brother’s keeper.
atta Girl Cheryl, Lets do it.I am waiting on your help SN.
the person or family tha lit the candle should be held responsible for the fire and the funeral expenses for the Bklyn 2 that died & the Manhattan family that succumb was tehre a smoke dector, was it working, how come not even one adult couldnt escape? how far was teh fire escape from where they were?
When will people learn not to smoke in houses/apartments/beds ect…. when will they learn not to go asleep leaving candles or hand lamps lighting? Gross negligence…. u move in a house or apartment or condo, first thing make sure the fire/smoke dector working. make sure there is a carbon monoxide dector & in working condition….. whats the point of moving into a new place & ur lives are at stake in situation like this?
my sincere condolences to the 2 sets of families….