LI Home Damaged By Fire 'Shouldn't Have Been Occupied': Trustee

HEMPSTEAD, NY — The Hempstead home where a fire displaced 18 people was illegally subdivided, Village of Hempstead Trustee Kevin Boone said.

Boone, who also helped extinguish the flames as a Hempstead Volunteer firefighter, told Patch that the house has amassed at least 20 violations.

"Because of the violations that are pending against the property for plumbing [and] electrical, the home shouldn't have been occupied," Boone said.

With the home illegally subdivided, "it was just a mess," he said. "You had a lot of rooms that were locked up."

Several bars are in close proximity to the Front Street residence.

"It would have been a whole different scenario," Boone said. "If the smoke and fire would have come down the other direction, it could have been a lot of loss of life."

No one was injured in Saturday's fire. The Red Cross is providing short-term support for the families.

The cause is under investigation.

"We want all our residents to remain safe," Boone said.