One person was killed and four others were hurt in a fire that gutted a Long Island home and forced a father to pull his son and daughter to safety through windows.
But family and friends said the dad, Francisco Lopez, was unable to save his own 64-year-old father, also named Francisco, from the flames that engulfed the home around 2:30 a.m. Monday in North Amityville.
Neighbor Ida Knight said "they tried to get him out but they were unable. The flames just took over."
"They just couldn't find him," said family member Manuel Landaverde.
Authorities said they found the body of the 64-year-old was found inside the home on Albany Avenue after the fire was extinguished.
Officials said Lopez is in the hospital with injuries, along with two of his cousins. The two children, ages 12 and 13, were uninjured. Their mother wasn't home at the time, according to authorities.
Fire Chief Aaron Collins said several firefighters also had to be treated for hypothermia.
Local
Nothing was left of the place that the family has called home for at least 15 years. Neighbors told News 4 that the family was from El Salvador and had worked hard to get a home of their own.
"It's sad," said Henry Martines. "It's really, really sad."
