Man Dies in Kitchen Fire in the Walt Whitman Houses

A man died after suffering cardiac arrest as a fire broke out in the kitchen of his fourth floor apartment in the Walt Whitman Houses on North Portland Avenue at around 3:29 p.m. on Saturday.

The victim, Curtis Hodges, a 73-year-old, was lying on the floor unconscious of his living room when firemen entered his four-room apartment, according to Chief Ryan O’Boyle from Division 11 who was on the scene. He said Hodges had severe burns all over his body.

Hodges, who used to be a Baptist preacher, was rushed to Brooklyn Hospital and medics performed CPR in the ambulance. He died shortly after getting to the hospital.

According to an FDNY official, 12 units and 60 firemen responded to the scene, on North Portland Avenue at Auburn Place, and two hoses were used to extinguish the 1st Alarm inferno.

One fireman sustained minor injuries. 

An FDNY official said Hodges was alone in the apartment, which he shares with his granddaughter and two kids. A friend’s cat, a Yorki named Cheerios was also in the apartment, but was in good condition and firemen gave it to a neighbor. 

Grace Policano, who is a close friend of Hodges, was crying outside of the building, standing on broken glass, which fell from the fourth floor window.

“Mr. Curtis is my best friend, he’s like a grandfather to me,” said Grace Policano while tears streamed from her eyes. “He is loved by everyone and was always cracking jokes. He’s the neighborhood grandfather.”