Wednesday, April 17, 2013

[Updated] Report: Fatal fire at 115 Fourth Ave.

One person died in a fire last night at 115 Fourth Avenue, according to the Post.

The fire started in the victim's bedroom in The Petersfield at East 12th Street. The first reports came in just about midnight...



Here are photos via @Mitski from the corner at East 12th Street...







And from NYC Fire Wire Facebook page...



Here's video via tarant10708 on YouTube...



The cause is under investigation, the Post reported.

Updated 7 a.m.

Here's the East 12th Street side of The Petersfield this morning...



More photos this morning via @Mitski





Updated 8:31 a.m.

ABC 7 reports that the victim is an 84-year-old woman, who the FDNY was found unconscious in the apartment.



The fire is not believed to be suspicious, per ABC 7.

Updated 6:30 p.m.

Authorities have identified Mary Lincoln Bonnell, a well-known sculptor, as the victim in last night's fire, according to the Daily News.

One neighbor called her "a real cool person." She has lived alone with her cat Amy since her husband died in 2001.

Here's an undated artist's statement from her:

I am absorbed by motion, concerned simply with how one gets from here to there and the structures that are needed to show it. My work no longer has direct reference to nature, but it remains organic. Growth and change are stimuli.

Updated

FDNY lists cause of fire...

8 comments:

Pinch said...

84 year-old woman was the victim, according to the local news.

jba said...

I took some shots of the fire from across the street. Was shocked to find out that someone passed away as there were no ambulences and few NYPD on site. Very sad.

http://jba.photoshelter.com/gallery/115-Fourth-Ave-Fire/G00006phW6IVcbQ4/C0000dvAjgs_dCdQ

Anonymous said...

Ambulances and police cars were located on 13th Street and on 4th Avenue between 12th and 13th. Police cars were also blocking traffic at 10th Street from coming up 4th Avenue and at 13th Street, diverting traffic towards Union Square. I counted more than twenty NYFD, NYPD and hospital vehicles from my window looking down 4th Avenue, including FDNY Rescue 1 and high-rise unit. To me, it was an impressive response.

greg6833 said...

What a sad end to her life. RIP Mrs. Bonnell.

cathryn said...

That is so sad. She sounded really amazing. I couldn't help wondering what happened to the cat, Amy... Sounds like only the caretaker was in regular touch with her. I wonder when they can't determine the cause...

Anonymous said...

Newer news article said she was smoking in bed... and that her cat survived.

cathryn said...

Thanks, anonymous, for the updated info. So sad. I hope the cat gets a home and not brought to the hi-kill city 'shelter, the ACC. Can you provide a link to the article you reference or maybe Grieve will...? Thanks.

cathryn said...

Maybe this is it... New York Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/east_village_artist_killed_in_doorman_jddRdeBZMXLixqvHzKvH6H