Kitchen Fire Kills Long Island, New York Woman

A disabled Long Island woman died in her home after setting herself on fire while cooking dinner, authorities said.

Neighbors smelled smoke and heard a smoke alarm coming from the Commack apartment of Carol Friedman, 62, just before 4 p.m. Thursday, police said.

Police and Commack firefighters raced to 9010 Fairfield Way and found Friedman dead on the kitchen floor in front of the open oven, which was on and set to 550 degrees.

"She was burned on the face and upper body," said Suffolk Homicide Squad Detective Sgt. Edward Fandrey.

It was possible Friedman accidentally set her clothing on fire, he said.

Friedman apparently perished not from the burns, but from smoke inhalation, Fandrey said. An autopsy was planned.