Crown Heights Fire Leaves One Woman Dead, One Injured

An early morning fire in a four-story Crown Heights brownstone has left one resident dead and another injured.

The FDNY responded to a call at 12:32am on Thursday, August 10 reporting a fire at 1347 Pacific Street between Nostrand and New York Avenues. They found one woman dead in a first floor apartment, where the fire started, a FDNY representative says.

A 49-year-old woman suffered burns on her hands and was taken to Cornell University Hospital for treatment, according to the NYPD. She is listed in stable condition.

The deceased is identified as 81-year-old Gertrude Duncan, CBS New York reports. A mother of seven, Duncan lived in the building for 30 years with her daughter, grandson, and her daughter’s boyfriend, according to the article.

Another resident in the building escaped to safety by climbing down a wire hanging outside his fourth-floor window, CBS New York says.

Responders had the fire under control by 2:30am, the FDNY says. The cause of the fire is under investigation.