A 78-year-old woman was critically burned in a blaze that began inside her Staten Island apartment yesterday afternoon, fire officials said.
The fire may have been caused by careless smoking, but officials say they are still exploring the possibility it was caused by a faulty electrical heater.
The victim, Carolyn Taltoan, was listed in critical but stable condition last night at Staten Island University Hospital North.
Firefighters found Taltoan by the front door of her apartment, inside the New Lane Senior Center, on New Lane Avenue.
Fire officials said that cigarette butts were found on the floor of the apartment and that the fire apparently started while Taltoan was sitting in a chair in the living room.