By Gus Saltonstall
One woman is dead and another is in critical condition after a fire broke out early Thursday morning on the Upper West Side, according to an FDNY spokesperson.
The flames ignited around 3:15 a.m. within a 14th-floor apartment at 175 West 73rd Street, between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues, FDNY said. The building is also known as The Verdi.
Almost 80 firefighters responded to the scene and were able to place the fire under control a little after 4 a.m., according to the FDNY. During the response, though, the firefighters pulled two women, 41 and 71, out of the flames, FDNY added.
Both women were rushed to the hospital with burns and smoke inhalation, FDNY said.
The 41-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the hospital, and the 71-year-old woman is in critical condition, according to the FDNY and multiple reports.
ABC7 reported that the younger woman worked as a home health aid to the 71-year-old.
It is unclear at this time how the fire started.
No other residents of the Upper West Side building were injured.
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So so awful, my heart goes out to them and their families
What a tragedy
How terrible. Condolences to their loved ones.
Early and unconfirmed reports are fire began in kitchen and may have been started by an appliance.
RIP to deceased and hope injured woman has speedy recovery.
If it turns out to be caused by a lithium ion battery the tenant and landlord should be held responsible.
And with no proof.
The Verdi is a special building. Among residents were Worldl War II Russian emigrees including Rachmaninoff’s cousin. He was on the 9th floor across the hall from a studio where three other Russians who fled first to France and then the US and taught piano. One of them, Vassily Zavadsky, performed regularly at Carnegie Hall and they were connected to the Pax Cultura movement in NYC – Peace through Culture. More info about Pax Cultura is at the Nicolas Roerich Museum at West 107th Street . We need more Peace and more Culture !
What great local history information. Thanks.
I wish FDNY published a cause for each fire they respond to. It would satisfy my curiosity and could help people be safer.
Yes. Most importantly, a safety warning.
RIP
Thank you for this update!