Heroic Firefighter's Family Sets up Fund for Victims of Fatal Upper East Side Fire

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The family of a firefighter who risked his life to save an 81-year-old man when a six-alarm fire broke out on the Upper East Side has launched a fund to raise money for people displaced by the fire.

FDNY hero Jimmy Lee and his wife Erin Lee launched the East 93rd Street Fire Victims Fund on GoFundMe with a goal to raise $50,000 for the 20 building occupants who lost their homes and belongings in the Oct. 27 fire.

During the fire, which broke out around 3:30 a.m., 25-year-old Lemmy Thuku was killed and 13 others suffered minor injures. If it weren't for the actions of Lee and other firefighters who performed a high-risk roof-rope rescue — often determined a last resort — an 81-year-old man could have also died during the fire.

Now that 81-year-old man has nothing but the clothes on his back, according to the gofundme campaign.

"Approximately 20 occupants in 8 apartments have lost everything. Mr. Duffy at 81 years old and a resident of that apartment building for over 50 years has nothing left but the clothes on his back," Erin lee wrote in the campaign description. "He and all other building residents are physically recovering but could benefit from our love, charity and good will to see them through their recovery and aid in creating new lives."

The Lee family is also raising money through the New York City Fire Department Emerald Society Pipe. As of this writing the gofundme page has raised $1,105 via 18 donations since it was launched four days ago.

James Duffy, the 81-year-old rescued during the fire, thanked the Lee family for the support they have shown since the fire.

"They’re a beautiful family, wonderful people," Duffy told the Daily News. "I’ve never met anybody who has done so much to help strangers."

To donate to the East 93rd Street Fire Victims Fund follow this link:

Lead photo by Gene Y./Twitter