Authorities: Bronx Apartment Fire Claims Life Of 78-Year-Old Woman

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A 78-year-old woman was killed when her Bronx apartment caught fire early Sunday morning, authorities said.

Firefighters responded around 3:30 a.m. to the blaze at 2874 Grand Concourse. They found the victim in the kitchen unresponsive and unconscious, authorities said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to other units, and no other injuries were reported, authorities said.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation, but the fire marshal is focusing on the kitchen, 1010 WINS' Derricke Dennis reported.

Authorities are withholding the victim's identity until her family has been notified.

"I feel very bad," one neighbor told Dennis. "When I heard somebody died there, I don't know who it is, but it's very bad."

"I feel bad," another neighbor, Sue, told WCBS 880's Monica Miller. "I really do, especially if it's someone so old -- it's a family member, what they have to go through."

Anthony, a neighbor, said it's a reminder to check on elderly neighbors and relatives.

"They need care, especially the elderly that may not be able to take care of themselves," he said.

Sue said she was relieved that, because of the extreme cold, no residents were displaced by the fire.