Video shows men trying to rescue woman killed in Bronx fire
NEW YORK -- A woman in the Bronx was killed in a house fire early Tuesday morning.
The FDNY was called just before 2 a.m. about a blaze on East 212th Street near Laconia Avenue.
The fire was brought under control by 3:15 a.m.
Family members said nephews who live in the basement tried to get the 38-year-old woman out. Authorities identified her as Tracy Ann Douglas and members of her family said she lived upstairs.
"To see this happen is very devastating," one family member said.
A cousin at the scene was devastated, and said he spoke with her Monday night.
The woman's brother told CBS New York his son and stepson lived downstairs, and when they smelled the smoke they tried to get her out.
Surveillance video shows a man run out of the basement up to the front porch of the home. Using flashlights, he and another man tried to gain access to the unit.
The video then shows firefighters arriving on the scene. The woman was found unconscious and unresponsive. They rushed her to Jacobi Medical Center, but she did not survive.
Neighbors described her as quiet and friendly.
"Most times, she would be inside. She don't really come out, but very respectful. She would say hello and go about her business," one neighbor said.
Neighbors on both sides of the home said they were prepared to evacuate, but the fire was contained within an hour.
The cause is still under investigation.
The three people who live downstairs now have to find somewhere else to stay.
In response, the FDNY tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that its Fire Safety Education Unit was campaigning in the neighborhood and sharing lifesaving information to try and prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.
