Queens House Fire Kills 95-Year-Old Woman, Injures Two Others

St. Albans House Fire Tragedy

• 💔 A devastating fire in St. Albans, Queens, claimed the life of a 95-year-old woman, identified as Joyce Bunkham.
• 🕯️ Bunkham, described as the matriarch and family glue, was a God-fearing woman who lived a long life.
• 🔥 The blaze, which broke out early Sunday morning on 202nd Street, left Bunkham's 68-year-old daughter, Paula, and 6-year-old granddaughter, Alania, in critical condition.

Community and Family Response

• 🏠 Neighbors described seeing the house engulfed in orange flames just before 8:00 a.m. as emergency crews arrived.
• 💬 Family members expressed disbelief and grief, struggling to process the sudden loss and the injuries to their loved ones.
• 🙏 Prayers were offered for the recovery of Paula and Alania, who are hospitalized but reported to be stable.

Investigation into Cause

• 🔍 The exact cause of the fire is under investigation by the fire marshal.
• 🏡 The home, where the family had made memories for decades, had its windows boarded up following the incident.