House ablaze by unauthorized fireworks from a nearby 4th of July party in Richmond Hill, Queens
The family home was hit by a powerful burst of fireworks from a party that took place next door outside a bodega, and the fire quickly spread to the upper floors of the house.
Depressed and frustrated, Shariff Khan spoke privately to Eyewitness News reporter Kemberly Richardson after firefighters rushed to his home.
“Fire on the wall, boiling and molten plastic, falling, falling,” Khan said.
It’s hard to spot, but in one video you can see the flames and hear even more fireworks as the teams check for hot spots.
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The 4th of July party went horribly wrong, taking place behind a restaurant on 101st Avenue in the Richmond Hill section of Queens.
Even on Tuesday, there were clear signs of a gathering that included fireworks.
“It’s not little fireworks, these fireworks are like explosions, the house is shaking,” neighbor Eddie Badillo said.
Khan and his family are fine but worry that if they don’t come home Monday night, they may have lost everything.
He and others here said this is not the first time they have had problems with the eatery, which opens in the afternoon and closes early the next morning.
“They party here every day like a free party for everyone,” says Badillo.
Khan said: “I called 311 because of the garbage, the stench, the rodents and even talked to them, but they are not people who want to listen to what you have to say, they are aggressive people.
Restaurant has no comments.
Khan is hoping someone sees this and does something. He has lived here for over a decade.
“I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid, this is my livelihood, I live here, I work for this, nobody gives this to me, I work for this,” Khan said.
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