Overview
- Kenneth Roberts, 42, and his 12-year-old son, identified by family as Mekhi, died after a 4 a.m. blaze in the basement unit of a multiunit dwelling on Albemarle Avenue.
- Fire marshals said no working smoke detectors were observed at the property, which had prior violations for missing alarms under state law.
- Authorities described several subdivided units and apparent overcrowding at the address, and the Village of Hempstead is investigating possible housing-code violations.
- About 100 firefighters from multiple departments brought the second-alarm fire under control in roughly 90 minutes; the structure was deemed uninhabitable, displacing 10 residents who are receiving Red Cross assistance.
- The cause remains under investigation by county fire marshals and the Nassau County Police Arson/Bomb Squad, and a dog was also found dead in the basement.