Mom of Two FDNY Paramedics Killed in Blaze

Barbara Steffens died in the inferno that erupted inside her house at Eliot Avenue and 78th Street in the Middle Village section, at 10:30 a.m. She was the mother of EMT Chief Mark Steffens, a 24-year veteran, and his kid brother, Michael, an EMT for 16 years.

Her death is the second tragedy in two years for Michael, of Brooklyn's Battalion 39. He lost his EMT partner Andre Lahens in April 2002 when a drunken driver slammed into their ambulance as they responded to a call.

Fire officials said the cause of the blaze was under investigation, but one source at the scene said it may have been ignited by a lit cigarette.

Firefighters raced to the blaze after neighbors spotted smoke and flames pouring out the windows. They were able to extinguish the inferno quickly, but the smoke was so thick it seeped into several nearby houses.

One youngster, 3-year-old Hannah Tamaya, who lives next door, was momentarily overcome by the smoke and was rushed to St. John's Hospital for observation.

The victims' heartbroken sons could be seen surveying their mother's charred home shortly after the fire was put out. "Obviously, the loss of a loved one is a tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with her family," said FDNY spokesman David Billig.

In last year's horror, Michael Steffens and his partner Lahens were responding to a report of a shot cop when they were hit by a driver intoxicated at more than double the legal limit. Both were ejected from their ambulance.