this is new york's number one news, channel 7 eyewitness news, with joe torres and sandra bookman. laura behnke with sports. jeff smith with the exclusive accuweather forecast. now eyewitness news at 6:00. tragedy in queens. a house goes up in flames and kills two people. >> never thought i would be here in this position. it is unreal. >> still waiting to wake up. this is all just seems like a movie scene or something. >> american heroes, 3 buddies recall their terror takedown on board a train. i'm joe tore reshgs sandra bookman has the night off. we begin with the tragic house fire in queens. two people died when a home in

far rockaway went up in flames. an eyewitness tweeted this picture as the home burned. it broke out on the first floor on cornaga avenue around 1:00 this afternoon. kemberly richardson at the scene in far rockaway with our lead story. >> joe joe, fire marshals are going over each and every part of this house. as the chief told me, there is, quote, something odd about this. he said it is highly unusual to have this much fire shooting out of all of those windows right there on the ground floor at this time of day. just after 1:00 this afternoon. typically a fire like this is able to spread so fast because it goes down at night when people are sleeping. i spoke with the man who tried to save the two people trapped inside. it was a daring rescue you'll only see here on eyewitness news. take a look. >> i opened the door and i shouted barbara, get out! >> seconds before in this video you'll only see on eyewitness

news, that is aleck in the white shirt kicking down his neighbor's door desperately trying to get inside of the home which was on fire. this cell phone video shows how intense the flames were. two victims were trapped inside. a woman named barbara and a second person. two nypd officers the first to arrive, tried to rescue the victims. >> we told them about the situation that she is in there. they tried very hard trying to get into the door. never made it. >> it was after 1:00 when the fire started. crews were faced with ferocious flames reaching all the way to the attic. the first units did run a hand line and eventually knocked down the fire on the first floor. precious minutes had passed. they found the two victims in the kitchen in the back of the home, both were dead just a few feet apart. officials say conditions inside

of the home complicated this operation. >> the house was very cluttered, extremely on that first floor where the fire was, so it hampered the first two units trying to make a push to knock down the fire. >> officials say because of the extent of the victims' injuries they were severely burned. the medical examiner will have to identify the pair. the woman who lived here was rarely seen outside. >> barbara rarely came outside. actually i probably saw barbara 10 times in 24 years. >> back here live investigators with the medical examiner's office are on the scene. officials say the fire appears to have started in that kitchen in the back of the house where both victims were found. again, at this hour the names of the victims have not yet been released. live in far rockaway, kemberly richardson. the fire tragedy in queens

comes hours after two dozen people, many firefighters were injured in a highrise fire in harlem. fire shot out of this building for more than an hour. the hallways filled with smoke as firefighters rushed to get everyone out of the 35-story building. amazingly no serious injuries. one fast-thinking teenager in the apartment next to where the fire erupted took charge to keep her siblings and their dog safe. >> i gave them towels to put on their mouth and we were waiting for the knock on the door and i said keep it over your mouth as we go down the stairs so we don't inhale the smoke. >> the teen could hear firefighters nearby but still called 911 to make sure help would reach her family. they all got out safely. overseas now, chaos and clashes in the streets of beirut as anti government protestors

confront lebanese riot police. officers unleashed water cannons on many demonstrators armed with batons and stones. it is the second day of violence on the streets of beirut during an ongoing trash crisis after weeks of uncollected garbage. protestors want the current government ousted. they claim lawmakers are corrupt. the three americans who helped avert a massacre reunited in paris and they spoke out about their dramatic terror takedown. spencer stone, alek skarlatos and anthony sadler stopped a gunman on a train in france. david wright reports from paris. >> battered but back together three american friends reunited. spencer stone talking for the first time since the train takedown, stitched up and out of the hospital, and he and his friends, alek skarlatos and

college student anthony sadler were traveling from amsterdam to paris by train when they heard a gunshot. >> i didn't know it was a gunshot at the time. >> stone ran in first tackling the gunman and keeping him in a chokehold even as the man fought back. >> he kept pulling more weapons left and right, took out a handgun and box cutter. >> reporter: that box cutter nearly severed stone's thumb. this stel phone video shows the 22-year-old shirtless tend to go a passenger bleeding from a gunshot wound. >> other than my finger i didn't feel any other injuries. i knew i was bleeding but didn't feel they were that bad. >> that man survived and so did the gunman identified as ayoub el khazzani seen here hog tied. beside him his ak47 rifle.

>> we saw him cocking his ak47. >> france put him on a terrorist watch this in february 2014. the 25-year-old is stunned by the talk of terrorism. he said he only planned to rob people on a train. >> doesn't take eight magazines to rob a train. >> he seemed ready to fight to the end and so were we. meantime amtrak announced a number of security initiatives for passengers and employees, including canine teams. passenger and ago gauge screenings and active participation in fbi joint terrorism task forces. bare-chested women took to the streets of midtown as critics complained about topless tip seekers in times square. topless demonstrators marched down the great white way during the go topless pride parade.

pits among dozens of events staged in 60 cities during the worldwide go top mrs. day. governor cuomo got involved in a crack down on painted pan handle lers. we're in times square tonight. >> joe, the crossroads of the world is in the crosshairs of officials targeting the topless women in times scare who take foes toes for tips. getting them to keep their clothes on is not that easy. >> we're having a good time out here, not hurting anybody. >> reporter: she has been working times square all summer. her outfit face paint, feathers and nothing else. >> do you feel this is indecember cents? >> not at all, we're celebrating new york, being a woman and times square. >> reporter: they have officials in a quandary, how to get them to put on some clothes when it is illegal to disrobe.

even the governor has joined in the fight. we're told state troopers are investigating these bare breasts to see if these women and the men who protect them are in compliance with labor and tax laws. >> they wanted to know if we clocked in and out at a certain time. what were our hours. >> years ago mayor giuliani cleaned up this area getting rid of peep shows and strip joints. now on mayor de blasio scantily clad women are factors. >> little children going by it is not good for them. >> reporter: we saw families and women. >> i think it is great showing equality for rim women's rights. >> it is not prostitution, it is not selling their bodies, they're working. >> angel bunting tells me her father who is the police officer in the south supports her second job. if officials can't figure out how to get these women to keep their clothes on, well, the cold

weather should have a nand this debate in a few months. channel 7, eyewitness news. gas guzzlers, it is time to head for the garden state. good news for those who drive. prices at the pump take a dive. where you can fill up for less than two bucks a gallon.

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great news for drivers in new jersey. gas prices in the garden state keep plunging and in some places they are lower than two bucks a gallon. eyewitness reporter renee stoll live in woodbridge, new jersey. >> i want to let you know there is nothing wrong with your eyes. you don't need to rub them. that sign does say $1.97 for gas. this is the ninth straight week in a row that gas prices have gone even lower here in new jersey. and guess what? they're only going to go lower. >> reporter: a dollar 97 for gas. >> decided to pull over. >> reporter: that is what we found dozens of drivers doing at raceway in new jersey. >> $1.87. >> i never thought i would see $2 a gallon again. >> reporter: these prices are even lower than the state

average at $2.32 a gallon and those prices are expected to drop even further, according to triple a as crude oil prices keep sinking. last year the average price for gas was $3.44. >> regular folks that have to gas up their cars. >> reporter: now, if you see prices for gas even cheaper than $1.97, take a picture and tweet us, we would love to share that with others. eyewitness news. seven months after a massive fire that left 500 people without a home in edge water, fire officials today renewed their plea for tougher laws. the january fire spread through the complex destroying nearly half of it. following the destruction the bergen county fire chief's association led a push for tougher state laws.

well, during an event in edgewater today, they said legislators promised action but no new laws or regulations were put into place. >> we're here today calling for changes in the building code, not just to protect the citizens of new jersey, and beyond, but also our brother and sister firefighters that fight these fires and put their lives on the line. we need this change and it now. >> suggested improvements to the fire code include reducing the size and height of lightweight buildings, increasing the number of sprinklers and requiring masonry, concrete firewalls between buildings. a hot competition between new york's finest and new york's bravest. coming up on eyewitness news a battle of the badges, police and firefighters go head to head in culinary combat.

humidity is coming back and firefighters faced off against police to see who could throw down better at the grill. this is the battle of the badges at resorts world casino in queens. everyone was a winner at this event. organizers invited the community to learn more about the people who protect their community and even -- take a look -- they had a chance to try on some of the cool gear and meet the canine units as well. you will find some really good

food in new york city fire houses. >> yes. >> you walk past the firehouse down the street you smell the food before you get there. >> humidity on the return i here. >> humidity is already here and keep increasing into tomorrow. couple of showers forming north and east of new york city and a couple of those could affect a few areas overnight tonight. that is about it. not a huge deal. a live look outside. what you noticed today the clouds increased, wind coming off of the water and with that maritime influence it is more 81 right now. 84 after a morning low of 70. humidity creeping up to 58%. if you remember yesterday it was only about 35% at this time. year. we went above that, your record in 1916 and sunsetting 5 7:43.

75 down at the shore. dew points increased to 65. the radar is showing a couple of these showers developing, little batch here over the north shore of suffolk county of long island, a couple other showers developing over eastern parts of dut chess county, fairfield county, this downpour showed intensity near smithtown, not moving too much. there could be a quick downpour in those areas north of the l.i.e. in the next few hours. a couple more showers can through. low-level clouds moving in from the atlantic ocean, whereas this to east. the normal direction that most weather systems move. we're watching this cold front over the great lakes. this will push out this ocean moisture during the day tomorrow. we'll start with a shower or two afternoon. futurecast overnight, could be a shower in spots, a brief shower

in spots right through the night. maybe even into tomorrow morning, especially east of new york city. then things clear out as we head into the afternoon. this front will move in during the day on tuesday and with that there could be a shower or thunderstorm at any point. beach and boating weather, waves around four feet, water temperatures in the lower and middle 70s. here is your accuweather forecast, cloudy, brief shower in spots tonight. down to 71. it is a morning shower in the area otherwise partly sunny tomorrow. muggy, high getting up to 86. passing shower possible tomorrow night with 72, still that shower and thunderstorm threat on tuesday, 85, and then check this out, some great days shaping up, wednesday, thursday, friday into next weekend. 80, less humid and dipping down into the 60s in new york city. we have a lot to look forward to in new york city. >> nice way to round out august. laura is back and next with sports. >> yankees love trimming down the list of available numbers of

their current players. another became untouch chibl as andy pettitte's number was officially retieshgsd number 46. out west the mets look to go do

something what a weekend for at least half of the core 4.

>> exciting and all of them being there is cool. yankees are good at many things. the franchise is good at two things in particular. retiring numbers. continues. one day after retiring jorge andy pettitte's turn. all in a pregame ceremony at the stadium. the core four was on hand and pettit was grateful. >> i gave it everything i had, every time i was on that mound. we experienced some amazing wins, some heartbreaking losses. through it all this place has become home to me and my family. >> well, pen, andy pettitte's throwing out the first pitch to posada, of course. cc sabathia on the t mound laboring early.

that is carlos santana. two runs shot, 2-0. sabathia, going to get it with the strike-out comes out hurting. right knee pain. he'll have an mri but expected to go on the dl. beltran closing the gap two score on the double. tie ball game. couldn't keep it that way. next inning, big swing, solo shot, indians take the lead, 4-3, yankees lose the game and series. the mets not only did that wake up with five game lead in the nl east but tomorrow the captain returns, david wright will be in the lineup since april 14th. first ever sweep of the rockies in denver and a rough inning for the rockies, three wild pitches. two of them you see scored runs. 3-0 the easy way. add it to it in the third. flores scores. 5-1.

new york still leading in the 8th. jason pierre-paul is not with the giants. he broke his silence on the fireworks accident. saying this injury is not a setback. and then showed his sense offer humor, tweeting, quote, lost a fing geshgs lol. as for the rest of his team last night big blue won the first game of the preseason but it wasn't a pretty showing. eli manning 46 yards and odell beckham, junior, zero catches. right now we although it is a work in progress. >> we had opportunities for big plays that we missed. we're a little off. we have to keep, you know, keep working with those guy, getting on the same page, getting the right timing. >> usain bolt burst on the racing seen on the birds nest in the beijing olympics. he returned to the track and made a statement. after two years of uncertainty, bolt made it clear today he is

still the fastest man in the world narrowly beating justin gatlin in a toto finish to win championship. bolt trailed for most of the countied. showdown 2016 olympics in rio. that is the news, weather and sports for now. stay tuned for world news. that is up next. i'm joe torres. we're coming back at 11:00. you should, too.