An 80-year-old woman died early Thursday after a fire erupted inside her Queens apartment, FDNY officials said.
The fire broke out inside her first-floor apartment in the six-story brick building on 80th St. near 37th Ave. in Jackson Heights about 5:10 a.m.
Firefighters found the victim dead in the apartment as the fire was put out. Her name was not immediately released.
A firefighter and a building resident were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries while two other residents were hurt but declined medical attention, officials said.
The fire was snuffed out within an hour.
FDNY fire marshals are working to determine the cause of the fire.
Thursday’s fire is the latest in a string of 13 fires in the city since Nov. 9 during that each killed an elderly resident. The oldest victim in the string of fires was 95, officials said.
The causes of those fires included faulty electrical wiring, a faulty extension cord, a candle and a cooking mishap.
On Friday, an 83-year-old woman was killed as a fire ripped through her Upper West Side apartment, FDNY officials said.
The fire broke out inside the Marseilles, an apartment building for low-income seniors on W. 103rd St. near Broadway, around 6:20 a.m.
As firefighters doused the blaze, they found the victim suffering from burns and smoke inhalation, officials said. Medics rushed her to Mount Sinai Morningside, where she died. Her name has not been released.
A space heater was found in her apartment and may have started the blaze, a source said.
FDNY officials earlier this month encouraged residents to hash out escape plans with their elderly relatives, friends and neighbors in case a fire breaks out in their homes.
“As the cold weather sets in, we always see an increase in fires. But, in recent weeks, we faced a heartbreaking spike in fatal fires and every one of those fires involved a senior citizen,” FDNY Fire Marshal Dan Flynn said in a video posted on X. “These incidents are painful reminders of how quickly a small hazard can become a life-threatening emergency.”
“Having a clear, simple and practiced escape plan can make all the difference in getting out safely,” Flynn said, recommending families visit FDNYSmart.org for a list of winter weather fire safety tips.
