Contractor facing charges in connection to multi-home fire in Queens

A contractor is facing charges after a fire ripped through four homes in Astoria, Queens, on Wednesday.

The blaze started at around 11 a.m. at a home on 42nd Street. Neighbors say it was unoccupied and a renovation was underway.

Alleged illegal construction work

Workers were allegedly using a torch on the roof when something went terribly wrong. Fire officials said the flames quickly spread to three adjoining homes.

"This middle house began to fill with smoke, and they were very panicked," neighbor Michelle Ronda said.

Neighbor Ralph Ditto heard the warnings.

"'They started a fire. Get out, get out!'" he said.

The FDNY said two fire marshals were in the area, heard the call on the radio and rushed to help.

Police said Spring Valley resident Luis Wilfrido Simban, 29, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with reckless endangerment for using a propane torch on a combustible roof.

"There was some possible, some illegal construction work going on in the building. That's under investigation at this time," FDNY Deputy Chief Jeffrey Meister said. "So if they were doing torch work on the roof of the building, just be mindful that it is a wood-framed building, and you're not supposed to be using a torch on a wood-frame building."

The FDNY said the two fire marshals assisted in making the arrest.

Simban was given a desk appearance ticket.

4 homes vacated

The residents who were inside at the time were able to escape with their pets. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

All four homes now have a full vacate order on them.

For Ronda, it wasn't just another building. It was her childhood home of nearly 60 years.

"It seems surreal, you know, to see my house with windows blown out and 6 inches of water on the floor," she said.

"It's awful, it's awful. I've been here since 1985," Ditto said. "It's going to take up to a year to come back to the house."

"I'm sure once it sinks in, I'm going to be pretty devastated, but right now, I think I'm in shock," Ronda said.

The Red Cross is helping at least 17 people.