Police: 95-year-old woman dies following Rockville Centre apartment fire

Police arrived to the scene and found the kitchen area engulfed in flames with black smoke.

Rob Taub and News 12 Staff

May 8, 2025, 4:25 PM

Updated 39 min ago

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Police: 95-year-old woman dies following Rockville Centre apartment fire
A 95-year-old woman died following a Rockville Centre apartment fire Thursday, police say.
It happened just before 7:20 a.m. on North Centre Avenue.
Police arrived to the scene and found the kitchen area engulfed in flames with black smoke.
Rockville Centre Fire Chief Tony Rugolo says the fire was on the first floor of the three-story building, and it appears to have been started by a dishwasher.
“The fires were contained just to the kitchen area of the one apartment,” he says. “The rest of the tenants who were evacuated are going back in now - 90% of the people will be able to get back into their apartments."
Police say the woman attempted to extinguish the fire. They say she was found with severe burns to her torso and limbs.
The woman was taken to Nassau University Medical Center with serious burns. She was later pronounced dead by hospital staff.
Two other residents were also hurt but refused medical treatment.
Four officers experienced minor smoke inhalation but refused treatment.
Police say the fire was deemed non-suspicious.