New York fire: Father says seven children lost in fire were ‘so pure’

A fire claimed the lives of seven siblings in Brooklyn after a hot plate malfunctioned

(Getty Images)

A day after a fire claimed the lives of seven of his children, a Brooklyn father eulogized them at the funeral on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.

“They were so pure,” Gabriel Sassoon said of his children during the eulogy. “My wife, she came out fighting.”

Mr Sassoon and his wife, Gayle, lost seven children – aged 5 through 16 – in a massive fire at the family home in Brooklyn. It is believed that the fire started from a hot plate that was left on for the Sabbath.

The only child to survive the blaze was 14-year-old Siporah. Both the mother and daughter are in critical condition and remain on respirators.

“My children were unbelievable. They were the best,” Mr Sassoon said, calling them “angels.”

Eliane Sasoon, 16, David, 12, Rivka, 11, Yeshuva, 10, Moshe, 8, Sara, 6, and 5-year-old Yaakob died in the fire, according to reports. The bodies will be flown to Israel for burial.

“This is the largest tragedy by fire that this city has had in seven years,” Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro told reporters.

“It’s a tragedy for this family, it’s a tragedy for this community, it’s a tragedy for the city.”

More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze that broke out just after 12 am Saturday morning in the Midwood neighbourhood of Brooklyn.

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