Little Girl Majesty Gerald Killed In Early Morning House Fire On Long Island

GORDON HEIGHTS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A little girl, just shy of 2 years old, was killed in a house fire early Wednesday morning on Long Island.

Suffolk County Police said nine family members were inside the home when the flames broke out around 3 a.m. on Maple Lane in Gordon Heights.

The youngest, 23-month-old Majesty Gerald, was asleep in the basement and died in the blaze.

Neighbors told CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff they awoke to crackling flames and the smell of smoke at 3 a.m..

"I [saw] it was my neighbors' house, so I got dressed and I ran out there to see if do anything to help, but it was just so much," Rosemarie Kistner said. "It hits home. I have grandkids that age, so it really hurts me."

Family members said 4-year-old sister Jazea helped alert other family members sleeping in the basement, and she was injured in the process.

"The 4-year-old is the one who got upstairs to get other family members, and I was told that she has burns to her hands from the doorknobs I guess being so hot," aunt Shikhan Mortley said.

Heartbroken relatives said the toddler was beginning to talk, her personality happy and bright.

"She was 1 going on 2. She was a little girl with an old soul... beautiful little girl," said uncle Terry Coleman. "It hurts and it hurts bad."

Suffolk Police said the fire was not considered suspicious. Relatives told Gusoff there was a space heater in the basement, and smoke detectors that did not go off.

Rev. Thomas Flud called the losses devastating.

"This is a great community, so the people here are trying to help the family out the best way that they can," he said.

The pastor helped set up a GoFundMe for the family, which not only lost a child but is also without a home. The Red Cross is assisting with emergency shelter.