Flushing resident launches GoFundMe to
help family recover from tragic house fi re
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
When Flushing resident Hong Qu
saw his neighbor’s house in flames at
1 a.m. on Feb. 15, he immediately created
a GoFundMe campaign to help the
family recover from the tragedy that
claimed the lives of a 65-year-old father
and his 6-year-old son.
Qu’s GoFundMe campaign has surpassed
its goal, raising $11,116 to help
the family that resided on the first
floor of the two-story home on 157th
Street between 45th and 46th avenues.
“I am glad so many kind generous
strangers and friends are contributing
and helping the family in this crisis,”
said Qu, who lives across the street
from the family and has known them
for six years. “They’re being so sympathetic
and compassionate to make a
small difference in the lives of the survivors.”
On the night of the incident, Qu
was wide awake working when he
saw the blaze from his window, and
his neighbor running out of the house
while firetrucks were pulling up to the
scene.
Sixty firefighters from 12 units responded
to the inferno, along with the
109th Precinct. According to police,
firefighters had found 65-year-old Stephen
Blumling and his 6-year-old son
Shawn Blumling inside the house,
unconscious and unresponsive. They
were pronounced dead.
Firefighters rescued Blumling’s
6-year-old twin brother, who had
burns on his body. He was rushed to
Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx, where he
is listed in stable condition. The boys’
41-year-old mother was not injured. All
were on the first floor, where the fire
broke out. Residents who lived on the
second floor, escaped without injury.
The FDNY on Tuesday, Feb. 16, said
that the cause of the fire was accidental
and an electrical fire that started in
the exterior shed and extended to the
rear of the house. A smoke alarm was
present but not activated.
“It’s just devastating,” Qu said. “I
thought the two kids and their father
were sheltering somewhere else, but
then I saw the news. It took a long time
for us to even accept the fact that it happened
this way. It turned out to be the
worst of the worst.”
According to Qu, the mother is doing
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.4 COM | FEB. 26-MARCH 4, 2021
Photo via GoFundMe
the best she can and is slowly recovering
from the incident.
“Yesterday, we were helping her
move some of their belongings out of
the damaged house,” Qu said. “I’m just
really glad people are checking in and
confirming, and their legitimate funds
will go directly to the family.”
Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed
by e-mail at cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.
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