Staten Island Fire Claims Elderly Woman's Life

Officials say the fire started in the basement of a private home before 6 a.m. at the corner of Reno Avenue and 10th Street in New Dorp.

RuPing Li, 90, was taken to Staten Island University Hospital in cardiac arrest but was later pronounced dead. Neighbors say she lived in the area for more than 50 years.

One firefighter says he was asleep when he smelled the smoke from his home a few blocks away and called the local fire department before springing into action.