Fire-related deaths nearly triple in Queens

By Adam Kramer

The number of people who died in fires in Queens in the first three months of the year nearly tripled to 20 from seven in the same period last year, Fire Department officials said.

Fire officials said simple fire safety measures like making sure candles sit properly in a holder, never leaving candles unattended or snuffing them out before going to sleep could have prevented many of the fatal fires in Queens and throughout the city.