Residents in a Central Islip condo community are upset they have to foot the bill to replace some homes that burned down, even though the fire was not their fault.
A massive fire destroyed several units at Windbrooke Homes five years ago. They have since been reconstructed, and the management company is making residents pay for the cost of reconstruction.
Residents say they received a memo from Fairfield Properties stating the fire was caused by an employee of National Grid.
"They increased our payments by…$1,700. One time payments. Some of these people are on disability, pension, retirement, some are infirmed. But they have to pay it or else," says John Sanchez, of Central Islip. "These people aren't going to be able to pay it and National Grid gets away with it scot free."
A Fairfield Properties agent says that since its lawsuit against National Grid hasn't been settled yet, Fairfield is turning to condo residents for the money for repairs because "there are expenses that need to get paid and there are no funds to pay them."
A National Grid spokesperson told News 12 the company has no comment, citing pending litigation. Condo residents say they are calling on the state attorney general to investigate the matter.