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Sources told NY1 that 12-year-old Christian Garcia, his 40-year-old mother Christina and her partner, 36-year-old Juan "Manuel" Lopez, died in a three-story building 2321 Prospect Avenue near 185th Street in Belmont.

The fire started around 3:30 a.m. and it took more than 100 firefighters around an hour to bring the fire under control.

Neighbors said the dead couple had two younger children who escaped with an uncle.

Four other civilians and four firefighters with injuries were hospitalized.

The building next door was damaged as well. A resident there, Stephanie Marsh, said she heard screaming and glass breaking, and she dialed 911 before escaping with her family.

"When we got to our front door, the next door was, their front door was engulfed in flames so it was hard for us to even get out," said Marsh. "It's just hard right now because I'm about to have another child. What are we going to do?"

Eduardo Sanchez had a room on the second floor of 2321 Prospect Avenue, and he lost everything, including the money he was saving to move out. He came home from work to learn three of his neighbors' deaths.

"I saw them every day. Every day I saw them," said Sanchez. "We chit-chat, had little conversations. They were good-hearted people."

Those who lived in 2321 Prospect Avenue said the second and third floors each had four rented rooms. Residents said there was a smoke detector in the building, but it was not working.

Consolidated Edison confirms the building's electricity had been cut off about a week ago.

Earlier this month, a complaint was filed with the Department of Buildings alleging the building had illegal conversions.

In 2009, several complaints were filed for alleged illegal conversions and the lack of secondary exits. DOB officials said for the 2009 complaints, the agency's inspectors were either denied access or got no answer when inspectors were at the door.

"They were like furnished rooms, shared kitchens. I know they were pretty well-stacked," said Sanchez.

According to the Department of Buildings, 2321 Prospect Avenue is owned by Domingo Cedano. Several residents said they had not seen him in months.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but fire officials say they do not believe it was suspicious.