The Latest: Officials say fatal fire caused by lit menorah

NEW YORK – The Latest on a New York City fire that claimed the lives of a mother and three children (all times local):

9:20 p.m.

New York City fire marshals say an unattended lit menorah caused the Brooklyn house fire that killed a mother and three of her children.

Friends and neighbours say the family was known to light menorah candles in celebration of Hanukkah.

At a news conference, the city’s fire commissioner warned about the holiday dangers of candles, overloaded outlets and power strips.

The early Monday morning fire claimed the lives of 39-year-old Aliza Azan; 11-year-old Moshe; 7-year-old Yitzah and 3-year-old Henrietta.

The father and two teenagers were taken to the hospital in critical condition.

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1:30 p.m.

New York City’s fire commissioner is warning about the use of unattended candles and other holiday items following the deaths of a mother and three of her children in a Brooklyn house fire.

Commissioner Daniel Nigro (NY’-groh) says the cause of Monday’s fire is still under investigation by fire marshals. But he also said in a statement that holiday traditions that “we all hold dear” — such as candles, overloaded outlets and power strips — can cause tragedies.

Friends and neighbours say the family was known to light menorah candles in celebration of Hanukkah.

The fire claimed the lives of 39-year-old Aliza Azan; 11-year-old Moshe; 7-year-old Yitzah and 3-year-old Henrietta.

The father and two teenagers were taken to the hospital in critical condition.

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12:30 p.m.

The New York Police Department has released the names of a mother and three of her children who were killed in a fast-moving Brooklyn house fire.

The NYPD says the fire early Monday claimed the lives of 39-year-old Aliza Azan; 11-year-old Moshe; 7-year-old Yitzah and 3-year-old Henrietta.

The father and two teenagers were taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro (NY’-groh) says everyone in the house was asleep when a neighbour reported the fire around 2:30 a.m. in the Sheepshead Bay neighbourhood.

The house was already engulfed when firefighters got there about 2 1/2 minutes later.

In all, nine people were in the house — the couple, their six children and a cousin.

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7:45 a.m.

A fire official says a mother and three children — ages 11, 7 and 3 — have died in fast-moving New York City house fire.

New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro (NY’-groh) says the woman and children were killed around 2:30 a.m. Monday at a home in Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay neighbourhood.

The commissioner says the children’s father and two teenagers are in critical condition.

He says firefighters arrived about 2 minutes after getting the call from a neighbour and the fire was already “consuming” all three floors of the building.

Nigro says the fire was accidental but the cause has not yet been pinpointed.

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7:20 a.m.

A fire official says a mother and three children — ages 11, 7 and 3 — have died in fast-moving New York City house fire.

New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro (NY’-groh) says the woman and children were killed around 2:30 a.m. Monday at a home in Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay neighbourhood.

The commissioner says the children’s father and two teenagers are in critical condition.

He says firefighters arrived about 2 minutes after getting the call from a neighbour and the fire was already “consuming” all three floors of the building.

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6:45 a.m.

Authorities say a woman and three children have died in a New York City house fire.

The Daily News reports that the fire erupted around 2:30 a.m. Monday on the second floor of a home in Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay neighbourhood.

Ten other people, including two firefighters, have been treated for injuries.

It’s not clear what caused the blaze.

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Information from: Daily News, http://www.nydailynews.com