Earlier this month, a fire broke out at the apartment of a 71-year old man from Queens.  Queens fire department officials answered a 911 call around 6:30 PM from the man who was coughing and choking from the smoke filling his apartment.  Emergency officials arrived just minutes later and rescued the man.  Firefighters were able to put out the fire quickly and prevent it from spreading to other apartments.

The elderly man was then taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead soon after.

The apartment was a third floor apartment located on 77th Street, north of Grand Central Parkway and just minutes from La Guardia Airport.  Investigators are looking into what caused this tragic fire, but have ruled out criminal activity.

Our utmost sympathies go out to the family and friends of the man lost in the apartment fire.