Married couple killed, several injured in Washington Heights apartment building fire

A married couple tragically lost their lives in a Washington Heights apartment fire early Tuesday morning. The blaze erupted around 1:45 AM in a sixth-floor apartment on West 178th street, ABC News7 reports.
 

The victims, a 77-year-old woman and a 74-year-old man, were transported to Harlem Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Ines Cabrera, a family friend, expressed her sorrow, noting that the woman was disabled and used a wheelchair, which likely prevented her from escaping.

The fire also injured six other people, including three firefighters and three civilians. In response, neighbors ran through the building, knocking on doors to alert and assist fellow residents.

"People amass things over time, and when a fire breaks out, it fuels the flames. Moving around can knock things down, making it harder to search fire areas. We found the first victim in the front room and the male victim in the back of the apartment," explained Malcolm Moore, FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief.

The Department of Buildings has issued a full vacate order for the building pending further inspection. The Red Cross is currently assisting residents, though it remains unclear how many have been displaced and what their next steps will be.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.