Deadly Midtown Fire Caused By Smoking, FDNY Says

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — A fire that killed a 76-year-old man on Christmas morning was ruled an accident, FDNY officials announced.

City fire marshals discovered that the deadly fire that broke out Monday morning in the 36-story Carnegie Mews high rise was caused by smoking, the FDNY announced on social media. Flames raged inside an apartment on the 35th floor of the building located on West 56th and Broadway.

John Doktor, 76, was found unconscious and unresponsive in the bedroom of the apartment and was later pronounced dead, officials said.

The two-alarm fire broke out around 7:30 a.m. Monday morning and more than 100 firefighters worked for nearly 90 minutes to bring the blaze under control, according to the FDNY.

Thick, dark smoke could be seen coming from the window of the apartment Monday morning.

Photo by Google Maps street view