(Bronx-WABC, December 18, 2004) -- Fire rips through a Bronx apartment building, leaving one person dead, in the Melrose section of the Bronx this morning.
Eyewitness News reporter Carolina Tarazona is at the scene with details.
Ferocious flames tore through this apartment in the Melrose section of the Bronx early this morning. The fire took the life of a long-time resident, a 71-year old male.
Willy Blakely, building resident: "He don't come outside, he don't bother nobody. He had a stroke just a few months back. The neighbors--they're taking it kind of hard."
Neighbors say the fire did not spread to any other floors, and all the smoke detectors in the building were perfectly workable when the fire broke out
Fire officials say they got the call at around 2 o'clock in the morning.
About 60 firefighters from the area soon had the blaze under control. But they say by the time they arrived at 3135 Park Avenue, it was too late. The 71-year old man was already dead inside his apartment.
Facundo Pilier, works in the building: "I work from the 10th floor down. That old man never comes out--he comes out once a month, that's it."
Authorities have still not confirmed the victim's identity, they are waiting until all family members have been notified. Meanwhile the official cause of death remains under investigation--as is the cause of the fire.
