GREENWICH VILLAGE — A 79-year-old man was found dead after a fire broke out inside his 10th-floor apartment on West 13th Street Friday morning, officials said.
Leon Gold was in his bedroom, where officials believe the fire may have started, while his wife was in the living room inside their home at 20 W. 13th St. when fire erupted there about 8:56 a.m., FDNY and NYPD officials said.
The fire tore through the apartment, killing the man and badly damaging the home, officials said.
His wife managed to escape, according to FDNY Deputy Chief Thomas McCarthy.
"Unfortunately, we had two victims. One gentleman unfortunately succumbed to his injuries. His wife refused medical attention," McCarthy said.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control at 9:37 a.m., an FDNY spokesman said.
It wasn't immediately clear what sparked the fire, but NYPD investigators don't suspect any criminality, a police spokeswoman said.
McCarthy said fire marshals will determine the cause of the blaze.