60-YO Woman Dies in House Fire After Saving Her Mom & Going Back Inside to Save Her Beloved Dog | “Breaks My Heart”

Kashmira Patel, who considered the dog as "her daughter," was in New York to attend her father's funeral which had taken place just a week ago.

Cover Image Source: YouTube | CBS New York

By Suchitra B

May 26, 2023

Posted May 26, 2023

A woman died in a tragic house fire in New York, leaving a Herricks family of seven in mourning. Kashmira Patel, 60, passed away after she went back inside her burning house to save her dog, her family shared. "She went to get the dog. She considered her a daughter, so she went back. She actually came all the way to the door, helped her mom out of the house, and then she went back," said the victim's niece, Chush Patel.

The Herricks home was "fully engulfed in flames" when authorities arrived, according to reports, and the fire is believed to have started at about 3 a.m., the Nassau County Police stated. Seven persons managed to escape with minor injuries and are currently in stable condition after receiving treatment for smoke inhalation, while "one female was found deceased inside of the home," per PEOPLE.

Sad update to share: Family members says Kashmira Patel was killed trying to save a beloved pet from an overnight fire on Long Island. @GusoffTV has the latest from the scene. https://t.co/uCchjdT3CZ
— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) May 23, 2023

Kashmira Patel is described as a loving mother and daughter by her "devastated" relatives. The family members had gathered together ahead of a Kashmira's dad's funeral which took place just a week ago, and "then this happened," a community member said on a GoFundMe page set up for the family. "Seven of us figured a way out of the house, whether it was from the main door or the window," a relative wrote in a message shared on the page. "My dad’s sister and her dog... tried [to] escape from the back door, and it breaks my heart to say both didn’t make it out."

A fast moving house fire killed this woman and her dog in Herricks this morning. They had been visiting New York for a relative’s funeral, now they are planning another. Our reports on @nbcnewyork pic.twitter.com/3hhb8Svlsz
— Pei-Sze Cheng (@PeiSzeCheng4NY) May 23, 2023

Some families were even dissatisfied with the response of Nassau County firemen. "I asked them why didn’t you spread the water because my sister is there. They said no, we cannot go in," Tarun Patel said to NBC New York. “We were yelling ‘there’s a human in there,'” another family member, Bhumi Patel told CW affiliate WPIX. “We’re all just devastated, in shock.”

Nassau County firemen said they were temporarily unable to enter the house owing to a downed electrical line. "Both police officers and firefighters attempted to make an entry. It was untenable. The conditions were too fierce. The conditions were too far gone. They could not get into the house to go search for that missing person from the family," Chief Michael Uttaro said.

DEADLY HOUSE FIRE | A woman died and seven family members were injured after a fire ripped through a Long Island home early Tuesday morning.

The blaze was reported in Herricks just after 3 a.m., trapping the woman and other victims inside. pic.twitter.com/K7MGuNoljU
— PIX11 News (@PIX11News) May 23, 2023

“It was actually blocking the front door,” said Uttaro, according to NBC New York. “They actually jumped over that line and tried to make entry.”

The official also stated that there was a defective fire hydrant nearby, but they quickly discovered one that worked. The cause of the horrific house fire is unknown, but fire authorities do not believe it was suspicious, per WPIX.