House Fire Shoreham Ny the Best Old Family
Burn down STARTED BY A HEATER KILLS L.I. Family OF seven
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February 10, 1984
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Section B , Folio
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A postal worker, his wife and their 5 children were killed today in an early morning fire that swept through their two-story frame domicile here while they slept, the Nassau County police force said.
Joseph J. Schweitzer, a spokesman for the County Fire Align's office, said the blaze, at 407 Briggs Street, was started past a kerosene heater that was besides close to a couch. Afterwards the couch defenseless fire, the flames spread speedily through the house, which was not equipped with smoke detectors.
''When we arrived, the ground floor was entirely engulfed in flames,'' said Raymond Of, chief of the Bellmore Fire Department and one of the first firefighters on the scene. He described the bonfire as the ''worst inferno'' he has seen in more than xx years on the force.
The Nassau constabulary identified the victims, who all lived in the home, every bit Luke Knapp, 52 years old; his wife, Ellen, no historic period given; Luke Jr., 24; Rosemary, 23; Kathleen, xviii; Elizabeth, 10, and Daniel, eight. Fire Collapses the Roof
The burn demolished their three-bedroom, white-shingle firm, 10 miles due east of the Queens line in a residential neighborhood on the S Shore. The flames gutted the interior of the dwelling, burned through the exterior walls and complanate the roof.
It was the worst loss of life in a residential burn in the history of Nassau County, Mr. Schweitzer said. Neighbors said that terminal calendar week the family, expecting frigid conditions, had bought the heater blamed for starting the bonfire.
Use of kerosene heaters has risen sharply in recent years as utility rates have climbed. More 4.5 million heaters were sold in 1982, according to the National Kerosene Heater Association, an industry trade group.
In 1982 more than 7,000 people, including most iv,600 children, were treated at hospital emergency rooms around the country for burns from the heaters. according to the Consumer Production Safe Commission, which tracks the safe record of products. In 1981, the heaters were blamed for starting 900 fires in which xxx people died and 210 were injured, the commission said.
Some consumer groups accept chosen the heaters fire hazards and have urged that they be banned. Manufacturers, yet, take responded that the heaters are safe when used properly.
Several Long Island communities and New York City have banned them as unsafe. Bellmore, similar Nassau Canton, permits them in one- or two-family homes. It has banned them, however, in multiple-family dwellings and commercial buildings.
Mr. Schweitzer said in that location was no show that the heater blamed in the fire here had malfunctioned. It appeared that the heater was incorrectly used, he said.
Neighbors described the Knapp family unit as quiet and sociable. They said they were one of the few families on the tree-lined block with young children. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp kept to themselves, neighbors said, attended church regularly and sent their children to parochial schools. New Furnace Not Installed
Mr. Knapp, whose job involved coordinating the commitment of supplies to 70 post offices on Long Island, was described by neighbors as a homo who volunteered his services and declined help.
''He ever wanted to do everything himself,'' said Swen A. Jensen, a close friend of the family who used to live across the street. ''He would never let anyone else fix anything.''
Mr. Jensen said that Mr. Knapp, who moved to the area 23 years ago, bought a gas furnace last summertime. Only he was missing a part and had not withal installed it.
Sarah Wieber, who lived beyond the street from the Knapp's, said Rosemary, a checkout girl at a local supermarket and a role-time student at a community college, had get engaged on Christmas Day.
''But she said she wasn't going to get married until she had saved some coin,'' Mrs. Wieber said.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/10/nyregion/fire-started-by-a-heater-kills-li-family-of-7.html
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