PORT JERVIS – Five days after being rescued from a fire that tore through her 80 Kingston Avenue home, a lifelong Port Jervis woman died Tuesday, May 23.
Eighty-one-year-old Georgianna Black was home at the time the fire broke out inside her house, around 10:30 a.m. on May 18.
Black’s sister told Mid-Hudson News that she had spoken with Georgianna by phone shortly before the fire began and was told she was going to take a shower. In what she said seemed like just minutes later, the sister was alerted that Black’s house was on fire.
Firefighters arrived rapidly on scene and were able to make immediate entry into the house. A firefighter located the victim and, with assistance from two additional firefighters, transported her out of the house to awaiting EMS.
Port Jervis Fire Chief Keith Brown said the firefighter response time and effort given was equal to that of career departments. He said as volunteers they give up every moment they have and respond within minutes. He said fortunately a Medivac helicopter had been enroute to Port Jervis for another call prior to the start of the fire.
“We were able to transport her on that first helicopter, with another already on its way,” Brown said.
Despite a fast response, the victim suffered second-degree burns that extended over 30 percent of her body. She remained in critical condition at Westchester Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit over these past days. The entire community seemed to have Black and her family in their thoughts and prayers, including firefighters and other emergency responders who had been on scene.
Black’s daughter said her mother had been sedated and not in pain as her family gathered at the hospital on Tuesday. With everything possible being done for their loved one, Black’s daughter said her family asked for prayers for peace and mercy as they placed her in God’s hands.
