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Police have arrested the brother of the five-year-old boy who was killed Thursday morning in a fire in his Queens apartment.
The two-alarm fire broke out just before 10:30 a.m. at 35-58 98th Street in Corona.
The boy, Jason Gullaca, was found lodged between a television and a wall in a first-floor apartment. He was declared dead at the scene.
"Sometimes, children in a fire go into corners or try to go into a toy chest or a closet and basically hide from the fire," said FDNY Borough Commander John Acerno. "It looks like maybe that was the case this time."
Police arrested Diego Gullapa, 24, in connection with the incident. He is being charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
Fire officials believe the fire started in the kitchen of the apartment in which Gullaca was found.
According to an FDNY source, Gullaca was left alone, locked in the apartment. Firefighters did not know he was in the building until the flames were brough under control and had to force their way into the residence.
"Just smoke, basically, out the window, and everybody running towards the building," said a witness. "By the time we looked out it was already full blaze, and a few hours later we seen the mother running around. We didn't know the baby had passed away."
Firefighters did rescue two people from the second floor, one was taken to New York Hospital - Queens with smoke inhalation and chest pains. Three firefighters also suffered minor injuries.
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