NYPD confirms that a fire in the Bronx that killed a woman was intentionally set
Bronx: A tragic fire took the life of a 56-year-old woman named Yvette Dargan three months ago. The police have now confirmed it was arson.
The fire broke out on October 5 in a six-story building on Washington Ave. near E. 185th St. Investigators say it was set on the second floor around 2:30 a.m. Sadly, no one has been arrested yet.
Dargan was pulled from the flames along with seven others and rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital. She passed away the next day due to her injuries. The other victims had smoke inhalation but survived.
Interestingly, Dargan didn’t live in that building; she was from South Jamaica, Queens. Police are still looking into whether she was targeted or if it was random.
Her husband, Tony Kennedy, shared a heartfelt message on an obituary page, expressing how much he would miss her. He described her as his world and spoke of the pain of losing her.
Firefighters managed to control the blaze in under an hour, but residents reported that no fire alarms went off during the chaos. Some chose to stay in their apartments, despite the smoke filling the hallways.
One resident, Berthel Washington, stayed behind due to a lung issue. She described the terrifying moment when she opened her door and was hit by heat and smoke. She felt trapped but thought it was safer to stay put.
The building also housed businesses like a grocery store and pharmacy. If anyone has information about the arsonist, they’re encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers. All tips are confidential.
