My brother Joe lost his home and all belongings in a five-alarm apartment fire in Ridgewood, Queens.

The fire began on the first floor of the building and spread upward through interior shafts and the space above the ceilings. During the fire, the roof collapsed into the third floor, where Joe lived, and the resulting collapse extended into the second floor, destroying everything.

No lives were lost in the fire. Firefighters worked under extremely hazardous conditions, including restricted ladder access caused by overhead power lines and trees, as well as non-functioning hydrants. Some firefighters were injured.

Joe had lived in the building for nearly 30 years, including long before he had his family, and lost not only his home and all his possessions but now faces the responsibility of replacing everything his family lost, along with a long-standing community he considered home.

Following the fire, the building was declared unsafe due to severe structural damage. In the days that followed, asbestos contamination was identified, further restricting access by authorized agencies.

Every belonging in the home. including family belongings, is now ash and ruin. This included clothing, furniture, tools, electronics, important documents, and collections built over decades, as well as irreplaceable items connected to close family members who have since passed.

Joe is currently without permanent housing and without the basic necessities needed to stabilize and rebuild his life. The loss has been overwhelming, but we are focused on helping him start over and move forward. In New York City, even short-term recovery, housing, food, transportation, and replacing essential items, carries significant cost.

Funds raised will help cover emergency housing, longer-term housing costs, basic living expenses, replacement of essential items and documents, and the upfront costs required to secure a new apartment in NYC.

Thank you for taking the time to read and for any support you are able to offer.

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