Woman, 87, Severely Burned After Robe Catches Fire: Cops

MAHWAH, NJ — An 87-year-old woman suffered burns on 30 percent of her body while she was boiling water in her kitchen, police said.

Police received a 911 call from an 84-year-old woman just before noon Saturday in Bogart's trailer park about a fire.

Firefighters and police on scene learned that the woman's 87-year-old sister lost control of a boiling pot of water on the stove, Chief James Batelli.

The woman spilled the boiling water down the front of her body, causing her hands and torso to be burned, Batelli said.

The woman reacted by spinning around, which caused her robe to catch fire as it landed on the stove, the chief said.

The rob burned up the woman's back and her hair caught on fire, he said. Her sister extinguished the fire and called 911.

Police administered first aid and an ambulance and paramedics stabilized the woman, Batelli said.

The woman was taken to St. Barnabas Burn Center in Livingston where she was listed as "extremely critical," Batelli said.

Police at the scene estimate that 30 percent of the victim's body was covered in second- and third-degree burns, he said.

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