By Alex Robinson
A 73-year-old woman died in a fire that broke out in her Flushing House Retirement Home apartment early Thursday morning, the FDNY said.
More than 100 firefighters responded to the two-alarm fire at 38-20 Bowne St. shortly after midnight.
Firefighters found the woman inside her apartment, which was engulfed in flames. She was transported to Flushing Hospital were she was pronounced dead on arrival, the Fire Department said.
Michael Rosen, a resident of Flushing House Retirement Home who said he was the woman’s neighbor, identified her as Natalie Blatt, but the retirement residence and Fire Department refused to confirm the woman’s identity.
“It’s very said,” Rosen said. “She was a very sweet lady and a widow who would come over to have coffee with me.”
The Flushing House Retirement Home issued a statement saying the woman fell asleep smoking and the cigarette lit the bed on fire, but the FDNY could not confirm the cause of the blaze and said the investigation was ongoing.
“She asked me to buy her cigarettes last week, but I said no,” Rosen said.
The fire did not spread to any other units in the building and no one else was injured, said the Fire Department.
“The staff and residents mourn the loss of one of our own,” the Flushing House Retirement Home said in a statement. “We remain committed to the health and safety of the residents who call this community their home. Our entire community is mourning the tragic loss of a family member, and we give thanks for your thoughts and prayers.”
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
