Queens fire: Man and dog killed in South Ozone Park house fire

SOUTH OZONE PARK, Queens (WABC) — Firefighters stood by a sick dog to give him oxygen – it was also his Queens home that burned – and his owner, Roger Assmann, who died.

Adrian was with Roger for almost 24 years and got married in 2018. He said Assmann was one of a kind.

“He was one of those people that you could ask him to do anything for you and he would do it,” Adrian said.

Firefighters rushed to the house around 12:30 Saturday morning. Adrian was at his mother's house but rushed to his partner at South Ozone Park.

“He called me and I tried to get here as quickly as possible,” he said.

The dog – taken away by doctors – after apparently inhaling a lot of smoke. Assmann was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

As the sun rose, the physical damage was more apparent, and the flames that torched the back of the 133rd Street house also melted the side panels next door.

Police believe the fire started in the kitchen.

“Every time you come out – the guy is over there 'Hi Mack' – we will miss him here,” said neighbor Mack Mahabir.

Assmann, 57, was a neighbor to some – for decades. He lived in the house he grew up in and as of Saturday, he and his dog Dylan are no longer there.

Adrian said the dog had to be put down after everything he had been through. He was 12 years old.

READ MORE: New Video of Suspects Linked to NYC Vandalism

———-

* More Queens news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

* Follow us on YouTube

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a news tip or story idea we should cover? Submit it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If you attach a video or photo, the terms of use apply.