The mum who died along with her two daughters when a fire ripped through their Brooklyn apartment has been named and pictured.
Danielle Havens, 48, and her daughters Journee Miles, 11, and Keslee Miles, 9, were pulled from the burning flat by the New York Fire Department (FDNY) but couldn't be saved.
The fire broke out early Friday morning, April 28, with firefighters being called just after 5am to the four-storey apartment building on Gates Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
“This is an incredible tragedy for this neighbourhood, for this family," FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh told reporters.
A fire had broken out in the third-floor apartment, with officials believing it likely started in the kitchen.
A spokesperson for the FDNY said: "A smoke alarm was not present."
Amanda Oliver, a sixth grader, was good friends with 11-year-old Journee.
She told PIX11 News: “She was very sweet, very funny and kind."
Amanda's mum added: “I couldn’t believe it. A month ago, they had a sleepover."
Mayor Eric Adams was at the scene which was near his own home.
"It's just a terrible situation," he said. "Our heart goes out to the family."
Did you know the victims? Would you like to leave a tribute? Please get in touch at charlie.jones01@reachplc.com
Grieving neighbours pointed to chalk drawings on the sidewalk in front of the charred building that the two young girls made while playing last week.
“The kids were playing hopscotch, and the mother was sitting on the bench watching them,” said a next-door neighbour.
Devastated family members arrived at the scene to comfort each other.
One cousin said: "Came to look for my family and found out it was my family that got burned in the fire.
"Beautiful little girls. The little one, she ran track. She was great. And they danced."
The children's grandfather collapsed with his son in his arms as he recalled the horrific moment he arrived at the scene.
Robert Carlson, told News 4 how he drove to the building to try and help his son - the husband and father of the girls.
"My granddaughters and daughter-in-law were in the fire, they passed away," he said.
Mr Carlson went on to explain how he grabbed hold of his son, catching him before he collapsed in tears outside the building.
As family members arrived, they provided comfort to each other as best they could.
Fire Department New York (FDNY) commissioner Laura Kavanagh said firefighters were on the scene in three minutes, but the fire was "very advanced" when they arrived.
Fire crews "passed the fire to get to the rear bedrooms" in order to rescue the three people, said FDNY chief John Sarrocco.
He said firefighters brought them out of the building and along with EMS "performed advanced life support at the scene". They were transported to local hospitals in a critical condition, however they did not survive.
The three were said to have suffered burns along with "smoke inhalation", and were not breathing when crews arrived.
