Blind woman dies in W. Phila. fire

A blind, 80-year-old disabled woman whose meals were usually prepared by a home health aide died last night in her West Philadelphia kitchen after she put aluminum foil in a microwave, setting off an explosion and fire that consumed her apartment, officials said.

Nicole Swaayze was pronounced dead in her fourth-floor unit in the Katie B. Jackson Apartments, a Philadelphia Housing Authority senior facility at 400 N. 50th St. The four-story, 59-unit brick building was evacuated, and two other residents were treated for minor injuries.

"This is such a tragedy because normally she has an aide who comes in and cooks for her," said Kirk Dorn, a housing authority spokesman, but "the flames got on her clothing, and the fire spread."

Swaayze put food wrapped in aluminum foil into the microwave, and the resulting arc touched off the blaze, Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said. The fire was contained to Swaayze's one-bedroom apartment, and the smoke alarm in the apartment alerted residents of the 41-year-old building.

Neighbors said a housekeeper ordinarily visited Swaayze morning, noon and evening to help prepare meals, and it was unclear why the aide did not arrive last night. Officials said they had no details about what agency employed the aide, whom some residents reported seeing outside the building after the fire.

"We're just sad about losing this person," Ayers said.

Swaayze had limited mobility, Dorn said, and neighbors said she had received regular dialysis treatments.

Firefighters arrived six minutes after the alarm was called in at 5:52 p.m., and found smoke pouring out a window and heavy fire in Apartment 406, Ayers said. The fire was extinguished in 20 minutes.

Griselda Burrows, 80, a 14-year resident, said the alarms had gone off at least three times recently. One security guard was on duty on the ground floor, she said, and residents are trained to evacuate on their own when the guard is unable to leave her station.

"When they hear the big alarm go off, they're supposed to get up and start moving," Burrows said.

After the alarm went off, she said, she and a companion started going door to door, looking for the source of the fire and alerting residents. Her companion saw smoke coming from Swaayze's apartment and tried to open the door but couldn't. They then called 911.

Residents, some using wheelchairs and walkers and at least one pushing an oxygen tank, streamed out of the building and were kept warm in two SEPTA buses.

"We're happy we got as many people out as we did," Ayers said.

Except for a few in apartments next to the damaged unit, residents were expected to return last night, Ayers said.

Swaayze was the 23d person to die by fire this year, he said. In 2007, the city recorded 37 fatalities.

The city is observing fire-prevention week, and on Wednesday night the department conducted a citywide fire drill to remind residents about the importance of having working smoke alarms and practical escape routes.