Fire Marshals Arrest Two Men for Setting Queens Fire that Injured Four

Imran Ali (left) and Devindra Ramnaryan

FDNY fire marshals arrested Mr. Imran Ali, 23, and Mr. Devindra Ramnaryan, 21, of Queens for setting a fire at 123-11 Liberty Ave., Queens, on July 23, 2011. The fire resulted in serious injuries to two seniors who lived in the building, as well as two firefighters who responded to the incident.

The fire was reported at 2:34 a.m. and the first units arrived on scene approximately two minutes.

In all, 12 units (60 firefighters) responded to the all-hands fire, which took more than 30 minutes to bring under control. The two-story fire building was a commercial occupancy on the first floor and housed two apartments on the second floor.

Mr. Ali and Mr. Ramnaryan, who were out at local clubs that evening, believed that rocks had been thrown at them from a nearby rooftop. In an effort to retaliate to the alleged rock throwing, they illegally entered 123-11 Liberty Ave., went to the second-floor landing and intentionally set a fire.

The fire extended into the two second-floor apartments, seriously injuring a male, 75, and a female, 70.

After a thorough investigation, FDNY fire marshals arrested Mr. Ali on July 27. Mr. Ramnaryan fled the country shortly after the fire, but was arrested shortly after his return on Aug. 1, following surveillance of the neighborhood by fire marshals.

Mr. Ali and Mr. Ramnaryan face multiple charges, including arson, attempted murder, assault, burglary, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.