An 83-year-old woman died early Friday when a fire ripped through her Upper West Side apartment, FDNY officials said.
The woman is the city’s second person to die in a fire this month — and the eighth person over age 70 to die in a fire within the past six weeks, officials said.
FDNY fire marshals are investigating the possibility that a space heater may have sparked the fatal blaze.
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.
EMS rushed her to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, where she died. Her name was not immediately disclosed.
The fire was put out within 40 minutes. FDNY fire marshals have been tasked with determining what sparked the blaze.
A space heater was found in the apartment where the flames broke out and may have started the blaze, a source with knowledge of the case said.
Last Sunday a 66-year-old man died after a fire erupted inside his apartment building on Sherman Ave. near W. 204th St. in Inwood.
The victim was found unconscious in his apartment after the fire started at 7:15 p.m. and he died at New York Presbyterian-Allen Hospital.
Fire marshals were determining what sparked the fire.
Friday’s blaze is the latest in a string of at least eight unrelated fatal fires across the city since Nov. 9. None of the blazes are deemed suspicious, and in each case, an elderly person over 70 died. The oldest victim in the string of fires was 95. The youngest was 74.
The causes included faulty electrical wiring, an extension cord, a candle and an accidental cooking fire.
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.
