One Dead in Kingston Ave. Building Blaze

A fast moving fire quickly engulfed the second and third floors of a large apartment building on Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights. One person was killed in the blaze and four others were injured.

The fire broke out at 10:00pm inside the second and third floors of 451 Kingston Avenue, on the corner of Lefferts Avenue. The building contains over 150 residential units.

While batteling the blaze firefighters made the grim discovery of one individual who perished in the blaze. Four others were injured and were taken to Kings County Hospital and are listed in stable condition.

It took firefighters over 30 minutes to put the fire out.

This building is no stranger to trouble, in recent years a man was slashed multiple times over a drug dispute, another man was beaten to death on the builds front steps, this in addition to frequent visits by police to the property.

The building is owned and managed by Yossi Popack, a local landlord who owns multiple properties in the neighborhood and who donates to local institutions.

Update: The FDNY says the fire was sparked by a person who was smoking in an apartment. The victim was identified as 56-year-old Rupert Smith.

5 Comments

  • Stop the DRUGS!!

    This building is notorious for people smoking drugs at all parts of the day and evening!!
    I hate passing by!

  • Kosher Chazzer Fissel

    Isnt this the same Popack who refuses to rent out to Jews? The same popack who refuses to clean up this particular building? This building where women and girls are terrfifed to walk by on their own? On kingston ave no less?!

    Yet he keeps paying for all the good publicity for donating things that he is anyway stealing from the governamet? (read: weatherization and boilers)

    Give me a break. When will we stop honoring those who are eroding crown heights and forcing young families to flee?

    Shame on you yossi popack, i for one know what your true agenda is, koshering your chzzer fisel…

  • Do not judge others.........

    Number 2 and 3 you have no idea the amount of quiet chesed that Reb Yossi Popack does. He is not a person who looks for his name to be highlighted in neon lights.
    Yossi Popack is a baal chesed and a baal tzedoka. Your spiteful words and comments are not called for and are out of place. He is an honest person and was chosen by Hashem to be successful. Jealousy will not get you anywhere.

  • Moishe pipek

    #4 “jealousy would not get you anyware” Kol Haposwareel bmumoi posel. Ihope that your hanifa gets you somewere.