Brooklyn Man Dies in Fire After SUVs Block Hydrants

In the neighborhood of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, tragedy struck in the early hours of Feb. 9. A devastating fire tore through a third-floor apartment, claiming the life of 38-year-old Gregory Fernandez, a Navy veteran and devoted father. His wife, Alexa, and their 2-year-old son were critically injured but later stabilized. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but one glaring issue has left the community reeling: Firefighters struggled to access hydrants because two illegally parked SUVs were blocking them.

A Community in Mourning

"That's like a crime," said Gregory Fernandez Sr., the victim's father, as reported by the Daily News, according to PEOPLE. "People are dying because the fire department can't assist because you park your car in front of a hydrant. That should be a criminal offense in my eyes. People die over that."

A Hero's Life Cut Short

Gregory Fernandez was a man with dreams, aspirations, and a deep love for his family. A Navy medic with a degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh, Fernandez dedicated his life to serving others. He worked at the Veterans Health Administration, helping fellow service members and was on the cusp of a major promotion that would have put him in charge of prosthetics for the VHA's East Coast operations.

"They were just here with us a week ago. Laughing, playing, eating, making plans," a relative of Alexa shared on Facebook after the tragic incident, as reported by Daily News.

His family and friends are now left to mourn the loss of a man who was not only a hero in uniform but also a hero in his daily life.

A Race Against Time

Firefighters arrived at the scene to find flames bursting from a third-story window. As they rushed to contain the inferno, they faced an infuriating obstacle. Both of the nearest fire hydrants were blocked by SUVs.

New York City Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker didn't mince words at a press briefing after the incident. As reported by PEOPLE, he stated, "I'm begging New Yorkers in all five boroughs: Please do not leave your cars on hydrants. Cars parked on hydrants are part of the reason we have the outcome that we have here today — this is a fatal fire."

Seconds matter in a fire, and the time lost maneuvering around the illegally parked vehicles may have sealed Fernandez's fate. "Keeping fire hydrants unobstructed helps firefighters respond quickly," the FDNY later emphasized in a social media post, as reported by PEOPLE.

A Preventable Disaster?

While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, one thing is clear: the response could have been faster if the hydrants were accessible. According to Daily News, FDNY officials said, "There's no time to waste working around a parked car when lives are on the line."

Many in the neighborhood are now questioning whether stricter penalties should be imposed on those who block fire hydrants.

Outraged neighbor Devika Kodi, 24, put it bluntly according to the Daily News: "I can't believe this just happened. People just should be careful and know the rules."

For Alexa Fernandez, once she recovers, she will face the unimaginable reality of rebuilding her life without her husband. "Life is fragile," a relative wrote on Facebook, as reported by Daily News. "Alexa is still in the ICU. When she recovers, she will have to rebuild her entire life without the love of her life by her side. It's tragic."

As the Bay Ridge community grieves, Fernandez's story serves as a heartbreaking reminder of how small acts of negligence, like parking in front of a fire hydrant, can have catastrophic consequences.

References: Navy Veteran Dies in N.Y.C Apartment Blaze After Officials Say Parked Cars Blocked Hydrants: 'Seconds Count' | Man who died in Brooklyn apartment fire as SUVs blocked hydrants was Navy veteran hoping to move