Bella’s passing marks another sad chapter in East Village fire tragedy

Bobby and Bella 

Bella, the miniature pinscher of late East Village resident Robert "Bobby" Bartolomey, has passed away following complications from the apartment fire that claimed her owner's life last Sunday. 

Bella succumbed Friday evening to an infection and neurological damage caused by smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning, according to a post from Dean Mann, the East Village resident who took Bella in after the FDNY found her in the apartment at 65 Second Ave. 

Here's more from Mann from the GoFundMe set up to help care for Bella: 

While this is certainly not the outcome we had all hoped for and supported, it is a grim reality of the circumstances that Bella experienced. It was a miracle that Bella survived the fire, as she was in the apartment while the fire burned for more than 30 minutes. The support from the community, first responders and the many veterinary medical professionals who treated her gave Bella a fighting chance; however, after almost 5 days of fighting for her life, Friday evening she joined her owner in heaven. Their legacy in the neighborhood will forever be remembered. 

My sister was kind enough to set up this GoFundMe and at the time we felt like Bella would be released from the hospital within a day or two; however, she remained in critical care and the decision to give her a fighting chance was made entirely possible by the support of the community and everyone who donated to help Bella. Your generosity allowed Bella the ability to receive the amazing care up until the very end. 

While this story is extremely sad, it also is very heartwarming to me as so many of the local people from the neighborhood reached out, contributed and stepped up to keep this person's legacy and the dog alive. ... I was so moved by the support and had no idea so many people knew Bobby (a retired veteran and certainly a staple of the neighborhood who was never seen without Bella). 

This is truly a remarkable NYC and East Village story, I cannot express enough my gratitude for the people I have met through this experience. I had visited Bella in the hospital everyday this week and though I am terribly saddened at this outcome, I am at peace knowing that she is no longer suffering. 

The FDNY found Bartolomey, 75, in his apartment last Sunday morning after the fire broke out. The FDNY has not yet released a cause for the blaze.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Neighbor steps up to care for dog injured in 2nd Avenue fire that claimed owner's life

[Updated] Neighbor steps up to care for dog injured in 2nd Avenue fire that claimed owner’s life

Updated 2/10: Bella has passed away from the injuries sustained in the fire. Details here.

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Yesterday, a 75-year-old resident of 65 Second Ave. died from a fire that broke out in his apartment. 

A neighbor across the street saw the FDNY bring out the tenant's dog, Bella. (Updated 2/6: Officials identified the resident as 75-year-old Robert Bartolomey.)

The neighbor, Dean, took in Bella and brought her to the Emergency Veterinary Hospital...

There's now a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for Bella's recovery. Per the GoFundMe appeal: 

While Bella's long-term prognosis is good, after numerous exams and tests, her immediate needs include receiving oxygen, IV hydration, and an overnight stay in the oxygen tank. While the long-term plan for Bella is still being figured out, and no next of kin found yet for the victim, 

Dean, without hesitation, signed off on anything Bella needed at the hospital and has taken on the expense personally. 

You can find the link here.

[Updated] Report of a fatal fire at 65 2nd Ave. between 3rd Street and 4th Street

Top photo via a reader; other photos by Steven 

Updated 2/3: There is a crowdfunding campaign to care for the victim's dog, Bella. 

Updated 2/6: Officials identified the resident as 75-year-old Robert Bartolomey.

Updated 2/10: Bella has passed away from the injuries sustained in the fire. Details here.

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A fire broke out this morning around 10:30 on the second floor of 65 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street. There is an unconfirmed report that a resident died from the fire in the six-story building on the west side of the avenue.

The Citizen app reports the fatality as well as two minor injuries. Updated: FDNY sources confirmed the death of a 75-year-old man inside the building, per the Daily News.

According to witnesses, the FDNY responded quickly and had the fire under control before 11 a.m.

As of noon, Second Avenue is closed at Fourth Street.

Updated:

Residents were able to return to the building around 3 p.m.

We'll update the story when more information becomes available. 

Updated 7:45 p.m. 

Here's a look at the building this evening... the fire started in the second-floor unit above the now-closed former home of Double Zero in the north storefront...