With Door Nailed Shut, Couple Dies In Fire

(AP)  The elderly couple's windows were barred, and their front door was nailed shut, apparently because the two feared for their safety. Inside, their home was filled with 5-foot-tall heaps of debris.

The clutter and makeshift security measures turned the home into a death trap Wednesday when a fast-moving fire killed them both, officials said.

Caroline Gorynski, 88, was found dead in a first-floor bedroom of her Yonkers home, in a middle-class neighborhood near the New York City line. Her husband, Leo, 87, was found in a front hallway and died at a hospital, police said.

The fire started when space heaters ignited some of the clothing, papers and other material piled 5 feet high throughout the house, said Deputy Fire Chief John Flynn. He said some clothing lay directly on top of the heaters.

The clutter created hazardous conditions for firefighters, Flynn said.

"The debris was piled higher than their heads," he said. "There were just little narrow alleyways for them to crawl through as they searched the building."

Firefighters called it a "Collyers' mansion," Flynn said, alluding to Homer and Langley Collyer, brothers who were found dead in a Harlem brownstone in 1947 amid tons of junk they had amassed over decades.

Police had to tear the front door off the Gorynskis' house because it had been nailed and screwed to its frame. The windows had been secured shut with metal rods, Flynn said. He called the measures "a kind of homemade security system."

Yonkers police spokesman Capt. Michael Murphy said there were no reports of crimes at the house at least since June 1998. But less than two weeks ago, there were 10 or 11 "hangup calls" to 911 from the house. An officer sent to investigate said the Gorynskis were safe, but Leo Gorynski was angry because their phone service had been cut off — except for 911. Police left word with the county's Adult Protective Services agency to see whether it could help with the phone, Murphy said.

Flynn said that although the nailed front door delayed firefighters with a hose by a few minutes, it did not hold up the search for victims from the back of the house and likely was not a factor in the deaths, given the speed of the fire.

The Gorynskis had used their garage to come and go, Flynn said. Some neighbors said they had been in poor health and had no children.

"It's sad," said neighbor Owen McSweeney. "Nobody should have to go under these circumstances."

Most neighbors said they didn't see much of the couple, but McSweeney said Caroline Gorynski had welcomed him to the neighborhood "and always would be sharing stories about when they first met many years ago."

[michellem99-2009]

Years ago we were taught about our elders. I would sit and listen to their day. My late Gamma she atill used the names of things she used as a girl.She was pre computer. The young throw their elders aside.They are the gimme. There is love/resect for the seniors,handicapped,the poor. In the 70s it was the *me, myself and I *thinking.THOSE SAME PEOPLE BRED TAUGHT THAT SAME TO THEIR KIDS,THEM KIDS GREW UP NOW THEY HAVE KIDS.I see it.

[slim1h2o]

Scared older folks it''''s happening more and more can''''t count on the police few friends some folks just do the best they can but didn;t they have trash pickup???

Posted by crzmeat at 10:37 AM : Jan 04, 2008

I agree! And I think should be a National Embarrisment in how we treat the old, the sick, and the poor.

Even when the old have wads of cash, they are not treated well,, just look at the story Astor, of a few months ago. The rich, old lady in NYC,whose son allowed her to live in her final days in a ratty old house coat? And sleeping on the couch! And without proper food? Her son, and all people around her,, should be ashamed of themselves!

[achtung-]

Cognitive troubles killed them. They had a nice long life, the end.

[Krazcarl]

Scared older folks it''s happening more and more can''t count on the police few friends some folks just do the best they can but didn;t they have trash pickup???

[slim1h2o]

Ummm... I do have a question about this article. It says the debris was 5 feet throughout the house, then it said that it was over the firefighter''''s heads. Does that area just have all extremely short firefighters? I mean I could understand it saying it was over some of their heads, but all? Surely that''''s an exaggeration.

Posted by usakousagi at 05:51 PM : Jan 03, 2008

Generally,,when a firefighter enters a burning building, they enter on their hands and knees. Where there''s less heat and smoke..Mabe that''s where you are a little confused on this matter.

[gunownerdan]

Sounds like the newest Darwin Award winners to me!

[irisheyes555]

they went together, yes, but I''m sure they were terrified and in pain at least for awhile. It''s a shame someone wasn''t helping them to take out trash, secure the home safely, etc.

[grammawhamma]

I don''t see this as a sad story at all. They were able to live together to age 88 and 87. They lived together and died together. Beats being declared incompetent and being hauled off to a nursing home...maybe to be seperated.

[olebd]

Seems like early onset Alzheimer''s to me. They also had other mental problems with all the debris in their home.

[michellem99-2009]

I am 53.Yer NEVER put bars on the windows and yer never nail yer door shut. They use to put bars on the windows ground level apts..People died as they could not get out. I can understand the elders'' fear I trully can. Space heaters are not safe when used improperly. Take the bloody trash out. I don''t go out alot. This story is sad.