Man Arrested After Fire and Collapse in Flushing Kills Four, Injures Twelve
44-49 College Point Blvd, Flushing, Queens
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Summary
- On March 16, 2026, a fire broke out at a Queens building, causing a structural collapse. The blaze killed four people, including 3-year-old Sihan Yang and 50-year-old Chengri Cui, and injured twelve others.
- Police arrested 38-year-old Roman Amatitla, charging him with multiple counts of murder, assault, arson, and petit larceny, as authorities investigate the cause.
Timeline
Authorities continue to investigate the fire’s cause, with the Fire Marshal examining whether the blaze and collapse were deliberately set. Four other individuals injured in the incident remain hospitalized in stable condition.
The remaining adult victims’ identities remain withheld pending family notification.
The Office of Chief Medical Examiner released the identities of two victims: 3-year-old Sihan Yang and 50-year-old Chengri Cui, confirming they died in the blaze.
Police confirmed that 38-year-old Roman Amatitla was formally charged with 8 counts of murder, 12 counts of assault, 8 counts of arson, and 4 counts of petit larceny related to the Queens fire.
Two victims have been identified as 3-year-old Sihan Yang and 50-year-old Chengri Cui. The other two victims’ identities are being withheld pending family notification.
Officials say the deceased victims include a 3-year-old girl, a 50-year-old man, a 61-year-old woman, and a 63-year-old man.
The Medical Examiner has now ruled the fire a homicide, days after the initial blaze and collapse. Officials have not yet released details on what led to the determination.
Two people are in critical condition.
Firefighters announced that four people died in the fire. More than 230 first responders went to the scene. A stairwell collapsed, trapping two first responders, who are now in stable condition in hospitals.
One of the people killed in the fire is a child.
Citizen user video shows multiple firefighters operating on the rooftop of the affected home. Several hose lines and aerial streams are being used to douse the structure with water.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 44-49 College Point Blvd.
Firefighters have transmitted a "second alarm", requesting additional units and equipment to battle the blaze.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 13203 Avery Ave.
Authorities continue to investigate the fire’s cause, with the Fire Marshal examining whether the blaze and collapse were deliberately set. Four other individuals injured in the incident remain hospitalized in stable condition.
The remaining adult victims’ identities remain withheld pending family notification.
The Office of Chief Medical Examiner released the identities of two victims: 3-year-old Sihan Yang and 50-year-old Chengri Cui, confirming they died in the blaze.
Police confirmed that 38-year-old Roman Amatitla was formally charged with 8 counts of murder, 12 counts of assault, 8 counts of arson, and 4 counts of petit larceny related to the Queens fire.
Two victims have been identified as 3-year-old Sihan Yang and 50-year-old Chengri Cui. The other two victims’ identities are being withheld pending family notification.
Officials say the deceased victims include a 3-year-old girl, a 50-year-old man, a 61-year-old woman, and a 63-year-old man.
The Medical Examiner has now ruled the fire a homicide, days after the initial blaze and collapse. Officials have not yet released details on what led to the determination.
Two people are in critical condition.
Firefighters announced that four people died in the fire. More than 230 first responders went to the scene. A stairwell collapsed, trapping two first responders, who are now in stable condition in hospitals.
One of the people killed in the fire is a child.
Citizen user video shows multiple firefighters operating on the rooftop of the affected home. Several hose lines and aerial streams are being used to douse the structure with water.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 44-49 College Point Blvd.
Firefighters have transmitted a "second alarm", requesting additional units and equipment to battle the blaze.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 13203 Avery Ave.
Authorities continue to investigate the fire’s cause, with the Fire Marshal examining whether the blaze and collapse were deliberately set. Four other individuals injured in the incident remain hospitalized in stable condition.
The remaining adult victims’ identities remain withheld pending family notification.
The Office of Chief Medical Examiner released the identities of two victims: 3-year-old Sihan Yang and 50-year-old Chengri Cui, confirming they died in the blaze.
Police confirmed that 38-year-old Roman Amatitla was formally charged with 8 counts of murder, 12 counts of assault, 8 counts of arson, and 4 counts of petit larceny related to the Queens fire.
Two victims have been identified as 3-year-old Sihan Yang and 50-year-old Chengri Cui. The other two victims’ identities are being withheld pending family notification.
Officials say the deceased victims include a 3-year-old girl, a 50-year-old man, a 61-year-old woman, and a 63-year-old man.
The Medical Examiner has now ruled the fire a homicide, days after the initial blaze and collapse. Officials have not yet released details on what led to the determination.
Two people are in critical condition.
Firefighters announced that four people died in the fire. More than 230 first responders went to the scene. A stairwell collapsed, trapping two first responders, who are now in stable condition in hospitals.
One of the people killed in the fire is a child.
Citizen user video shows multiple firefighters operating on the rooftop of the affected home. Several hose lines and aerial streams are being used to douse the structure with water.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 44-49 College Point Blvd.
Firefighters have transmitted a "second alarm", requesting additional units and equipment to battle the blaze.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 13203 Avery Ave.
Authorities continue to investigate the fire’s cause, with the Fire Marshal examining whether the blaze and collapse were deliberately set. Four other individuals injured in the incident remain hospitalized in stable condition.
The remaining adult victims’ identities remain withheld pending family notification.
The Office of Chief Medical Examiner released the identities of two victims: 3-year-old Sihan Yang and 50-year-old Chengri Cui, confirming they died in the blaze.
Police confirmed that 38-year-old Roman Amatitla was formally charged with 8 counts of murder, 12 counts of assault, 8 counts of arson, and 4 counts of petit larceny related to the Queens fire.
Two victims have been identified as 3-year-old Sihan Yang and 50-year-old Chengri Cui. The other two victims’ identities are being withheld pending family notification.
Officials say the deceased victims include a 3-year-old girl, a 50-year-old man, a 61-year-old woman, and a 63-year-old man.
The Medical Examiner has now ruled the fire a homicide, days after the initial blaze and collapse. Officials have not yet released details on what led to the determination.
Two people are in critical condition.
Firefighters announced that four people died in the fire. More than 230 first responders went to the scene. A stairwell collapsed, trapping two first responders, who are now in stable condition in hospitals.
One of the people killed in the fire is a child.
Citizen user video shows multiple firefighters operating on the rooftop of the affected home. Several hose lines and aerial streams are being used to douse the structure with water.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 44-49 College Point Blvd.
Firefighters have transmitted a "second alarm", requesting additional units and equipment to battle the blaze.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 13203 Avery Ave.
Authorities continue to investigate the fire’s cause, with the Fire Marshal examining whether the blaze and collapse were deliberately set. Four other individuals injured in the incident remain hospitalized in stable condition.
The remaining adult victims’ identities remain withheld pending family notification.
The Office of Chief Medical Examiner released the identities of two victims: 3-year-old Sihan Yang and 50-year-old Chengri Cui, confirming they died in the blaze.
Police confirmed that 38-year-old Roman Amatitla was formally charged with 8 counts of murder, 12 counts of assault, 8 counts of arson, and 4 counts of petit larceny related to the Queens fire.
Two victims have been identified as 3-year-old Sihan Yang and 50-year-old Chengri Cui. The other two victims’ identities are being withheld pending family notification.
Officials say the deceased victims include a 3-year-old girl, a 50-year-old man, a 61-year-old woman, and a 63-year-old man.
The Medical Examiner has now ruled the fire a homicide, days after the initial blaze and collapse. Officials have not yet released details on what led to the determination.
Two people are in critical condition.
Firefighters announced that four people died in the fire. More than 230 first responders went to the scene. A stairwell collapsed, trapping two first responders, who are now in stable condition in hospitals.
One of the people killed in the fire is a child.
Citizen user video shows multiple firefighters operating on the rooftop of the affected home. Several hose lines and aerial streams are being used to douse the structure with water.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 44-49 College Point Blvd.
Firefighters have transmitted a "second alarm", requesting additional units and equipment to battle the blaze.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 13203 Avery Ave.
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Comments30
Wish the cause of these fires were publicly shared. Not to gossip, but to educate the community on how to prevent them and for us to advocate to city officials that fire safety should also remain a top priority.
I bought an emergency fire blanket and keep it next to my stove. Their only like 20 dollars
@Oc2Nyc This is the building where they had multiple illegal dwellings in the house. There was news on it how there was 12 bedrooms on one of the floors or something like that couple years ago.
Oh boy. 😟
Too many fires lately. Rip child.
Wish the cause of these fires were publicly shared. Not to gossip, but to educate the community on how to prevent them and for us to advocate to city officials that fire safety should also remain a top priority.
I bought an emergency fire blanket and keep it next to my stove. Their only like 20 dollars
@Oc2Nyc This is the building where they had multiple illegal dwellings in the house. There was news on it how there was 12 bedrooms on one of the floors or something like that couple years ago.
Oh boy. 😟
Too many fires lately. Rip child.
Wish the cause of these fires were publicly shared. Not to gossip, but to educate the community on how to prevent them and for us to advocate to city officials that fire safety should also remain a top priority.
I bought an emergency fire blanket and keep it next to my stove. Their only like 20 dollars
@Oc2Nyc This is the building where they had multiple illegal dwellings in the house. There was news on it how there was 12 bedrooms on one of the floors or something like that couple years ago.
Oh boy. 😟
Too many fires lately. Rip child.
Wish the cause of these fires were publicly shared. Not to gossip, but to educate the community on how to prevent them and for us to advocate to city officials that fire safety should also remain a top priority.
I bought an emergency fire blanket and keep it next to my stove. Their only like 20 dollars
@Oc2Nyc This is the building where they had multiple illegal dwellings in the house. There was news on it how there was 12 bedrooms on one of the floors or something like that couple years ago.
Oh boy. 😟
Too many fires lately. Rip child.
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Wish the cause of these fires were publicly shared. Not to gossip, but to educate the community on how to prevent them and for us to advocate to city officials that fire safety should also remain a top priority.
I bought an emergency fire blanket and keep it next to my stove. Their only like 20 dollars
@Oc2Nyc This is the building where they had multiple illegal dwellings in the house. There was news on it how there was 12 bedrooms on one of the floors or something like that couple years ago.
Oh boy. 😟
Too many fires lately. Rip child.