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Andrea Bulat, 62, public defender, dies of fire injuries

Andrea Francesca Bulat, 62, a former Philadelphia public defender, died Tuesday, Jan. 3, at Temple University Hospital of complications from burns she sustained in an Oct. 23, 2016, fire at her Port Richmond rowhouse.

Andrea F. Balut
Andrea F. BalutRead more

Andrea Francesca Bulat, 62, a former Philadelphia public defender, died Tuesday, Jan. 3, at Temple University Hospital of complications from burns she sustained in an Oct. 23, 2016, fire at her Port Richmond rowhouse.

Neighbors were alerted to the first-floor blaze at 4:20 a.m. when Che, her mixed-breed dog, barked incessantly. Firefighters who responded to a 911 call found her unconscious with her dog, also unconscious, sprawled across her chest, as if to protect her.

She was admitted to Temple in critical condition and never left. The dog was treated for smoke inhalation at the Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services in Langhorne, Bucks County, and is in the care of a family friend.

Capt. William Dixon, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Fire Department, said an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

Born at Nazareth Hospital, Ms. Bulat was the only daughter of Maria Curcio and Edward Bulat.

She graduated from the now-gone Eden Hall High School in Torresdale, and from Widener Law School in 1984, before joining the Defender Association of Philadelphia, where she took on what her family termed "unwinnable cases."

She won some of them, much to the frustration of the prosecutors, her family said. She retired in 1995.

While in law school, she was employed by the now-defunct Metropolitan Hospital and several nursing homes, all in Philadelphia.

As a licensed nurse, she demonstrated the same serious work ethic on behalf of her patients as she did for her clients as a public defender, her family said.

An avid traveler, Ms. Bulat visited Mongolia, China, Morocco, Nepal, India, Afghanistan, Mexico, Peru, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, and Spain, all on a shoestring budget by staying at out-of-the-way lodgings.

"She had that thirst for knowledge and experience," said her brother, Edward Bulat.

She enjoyed reading and caring for her pets, both dogs and cats. She fostered homeless dogs while permanent families were being found by animal welfare groups in the area.

Ms. Bulat did not marry. Besides her brother, she is survived by her mother, Maria. A pet cat she had rescued from the streets of Mexico died in the fire.

At her request, there will be no services. Spreading of her ashes will be private.

bcook@phillynews.com

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