Harlem apartment fire leaves man critical, woman dead

HARLEM, New York (WABC) -- An elderly woman is dead and her husband is fighting for his life after a fire in Harlem.

Around 7:30 p.m. Monday, police responded to 70 La Salle Street, where an apartment on the 15th floor was on fire.

Firefighters got an 88-year-old woman and her 86-year-old husband out of the apartment, but the wife was pronounced dead at St. Luke's Hospital. The man also was taken to St. Luke's, where he is listed in critical condition.

The cause of the fire was accidental, related to cooking.

The investigation is ongoing. There was an operational smoke alarm in the home at the time.

The name of the deceased is being withheld pending family notification.