Kate Ragazzino Marine Veteran Battles for Home Years After Fire

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When fire devastates a home, the expectation is simple: once the damage is repaired, families return and life slowly regains normalcy. But for former United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Kate Ragazzino, that promise of recovery has become a nearly three-year odyssey of displacement, frustration, and legal battles.

On January 3, 2022, a fire broke out in a neighbor’s apartment at Dayton Towers, a Mitchell-Lama cooperative complex overlooking the Queens shoreline. The flames spread, damaging Ragazzino’s apartment and several others. What followed was a second battle for survival—one not waged in the deserts of Iraq, but in the hallways of housing bureaucracy and the courts of New York City.

Katherine Ragazzino wit her dog — Katherine Ragazzino with her service dog Daisey Photo Courtesy of Katherine Ragazzino

From the Battlefield to the Homefront

Ragazzino, a second-generation Marine, deployed twice with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit before being medically retired. A traumatic brain injury sustained in Iraq left her with lifelong physical and cognitive challenges.

The transition from the battlefield to civilian life was never easy. Coming from California to New York, Ragazzino struggled to readjust. With the help of her service dog, Daisy, and a paid internship through The Mission Continues—where she partnered with Friends of Firefighters as her host organization—she began piecing her life back together.

After years of recovery, she finally built a home for herself at Dayton Towers—only to see it ripped away in a single night.

Instead of a swift repair process, she was displaced for 17 months, navigating a maze of poor workmanship, unfulfilled promises, and mounting legal disputes. “I just want the repairs to be done properly,” she says. “What they’ve put me through—and what they’ve put other tenants through—should be investigated.”

Katherine Ragazzino in military uniform — Katherine Ragazzino in uniform at the Marine Corps Ball Photo Courtesy of Katherine Ragazzino

A Fight Beyond Herself

Ragazzino insists her case is not isolated. Other units remain damaged, some floors still bear the scars of the fire, and residents voice frustration with the management company, Metro Management. In her view, what has unfolded is grounds for a class-action lawsuit. Metro Management declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

Her battle has drawn attention from elected officials. “After defending our country, Katherine deserves to be back in her home, and the failure to properly restore her apartment is completely unacceptable,” said New York State Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato. “This was not her fault, and we will continue to advocate and push everyone to do their job.”

Fire Damage on Door — Fire Damage on Kate’s Door Photo Courtesy of Kate Ragazzino

What Should Happen After a Fire

In New York City, protocol after a residential fire is clear:

The FDNY secures the scene, followed by Fire Marshals to determine the cause.
The Department of Buildings assesses structural safety, sometimes issuing a vacate order.
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development evaluates habitability.
The American Red Cross provides immediate aid—food, clothing, medicine, and up to 48 hours of temporary housing—before referring victims to HPD or HRA for long-term support.

Tenants are not responsible for rent during a vacate order, and landlords may offer alternative housing, though tenants are advised to secure agreements in writing. Residents can also request inspections from the Department of Environmental Protection if they fear asbestos or other hazards were overlooked.

For Ragazzino, those safeguards have not translated into resolution. She has spent thousands of dollars out of her own pocket on repairs, only to face ongoing hazards—including injuries caused by unsafe conditions.

Katherine Ragazzino in uniform — Katherine Ragazzino in her USMC Blues Photo Courtesy of Katherine Ragazzino

A Marine’s Resilience

Despite the ordeal, Kate Ragazzino continues to channel the resilience that defined her military service. She has never stopped serving others and was inducted into the New York State Veterans’ Hall of Fame in recognition of her tireless advocacy work for fellow service members and her community.

Her lawsuit against Dayton Towers, now pending in Queens County Supreme Court, has taken a heavy toll—physically, mentally, and financially. Yet her Marine Corps spirit drives her forward: “I fought for my country, and now I’m fighting for my home.”