A tragic fire last night claimed the life of a nonagenarian woman in the Bronx. The fire, which officials say erupted just before 10 p.m. in the back bedroom on the second floor of a building located on 168th Street, sadly resulted in the death of the elderly resident who was discovered in a second-floor room, as reported by ABC7NY.
Dorita Joseph, a neighbor, described the victim as a community cornerstone, saying "It's a very sad night for us," she used to call my husband her son, and the families knew each other, according to statements obtained by ABC7NY. Investigators are currently sifting through the aftermath in an attempt to determine what ignited the fatal blaze. Fire Department of New York (FDNY) has not issued an official cause for the fire at the time of this report.
The story also caught the attention of PIX11 News, which noted that the FDNY responded with more than 60 firefighters to tackle the flames. The outlet added that Joseph's wall was partially demolished during the emergency response where she described the decedent as "a godly woman, god-fearing, she's very friendly," and "very well known in the community."
An adjacent neighbor highlighted the woman's mobility challenges noting she was in a wheelchair the neighbor also mentioned the presence of a home attendant, expressing hope that both were not caught in the fire according to a PIX11 News interview. The NYPD has yet to release the woman's identity as they await the opportunity to properly notify her family members about the unfortunate event.
