Myrie To NYCHA Over Stalled Fire Fix: 'There Will Be Hell To Pay'

EAST FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN — Brooklyn seniors have been living for almost two months in a fire-ravaged development that still stinks of smoke as they wait for the city's public housing authority to make repairs, according to state Senator Zellnor Myrie.

"I have the smell of fire in my nostrils as I write this," the Brooklyn representative tweeted Wednesday from NYCHA's Reid Apartments at 728 East New York Ave. "I am outraged. Who knows what our seniors have been breathing in."

"If you do not deal with this immediately," Myrie wrote, "there will be hell to pay."

Myrie, the Democrat representing Brooklyn's District 20, toured the senior development weeks after what the FDNY described as an all hands fire that erupted on the building's second floor Saturday, Aug. 24.

Some of REID's elderly residents were forced to escape through their windows and many were hospitalized, according to Myrie.

Photos posted to Twitter show, as of Wednesday, the hallway remained blackened by smoke and water-damaged paint hung from the ceiling.

"We are giving you 24 hours to respond to REID apartments," Myrie said in a video message. "No one should be living in these conditions."

Myrie's video message has since been viewed about 2,000 times by New Yorkers that include New York City Housing Authority spokesperson Barbara Brancaccio.

Brancaccio promised to bring aid the Reid apartments, but also hinted she was less than pleased with Myrie's public call for action.

"We understand Senator Myrie's frustration and we are working to repair this damage," she wrote. "We hope moving forward, the Senator will contact us directly about issues concerning his community to ensure residents receive accurate information."

Their apology fell short with at least one New Yorker.

"THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DEPLORABLE," replied @KhaleelAnderson. "To allow seniors to live under those conditions is outrageous."