Posted on 12/06/2006 3:14:15 AM PST by restornu
Tragedy struck a 9/11 family for a second time when the daughter of one of the hijacked pilots was killed in a suspicious blaze in New Jersey yesterday. Wendy Burlingame, 32, and her two dogs died when flames ripped through her 10th-floor apartment in Guttenberg, Hudson County.
Burlingame was the daughter of American Airlines pilot Charles (Chick) Burlingame, whose plane crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.
"It's just an extreme tragedy," said Tim Sumner, who knew Wendy Burlingame from the 9/11 Families survivor group. "It's an amazing blow to that family."
Wendy Burlingame's aunt, Debra Burlingame, a member of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation board, was too heartbroken to speak last night.
The fire broke out about 12:30 a.m. in the Galaxy Towers apartment Burlingame shared with her fiancé, Kevin Roderick.
Neighbors said Burlingame moved into the apartment overlooking the Hudson River about a month ago. Roderick escaped the fire.
Firefighters battled the stubborn blaze for about three hours before bringing it under control. Firefighters found Burlingame's body in a hallway between the kitchen and a bedroom, investigators said.
"It is suspicious at this point because the cause and origin have not been established," Hudson County Prosecutor Edward De Fazio said.
De Fazio said the fire damaged neighboring apartments. A neighbor reported hearing a commotion coming from Burlingame's apartment just before the fire alarms in the building sounded.
What a treasure and a great lost!
Just a horrible tragedy for that family. Hard to fathom. May she rest in peace. She certainly suffered a horrible end. I hope the fiance wasn't involved, but it does look awfully suspicious.
Unbelievable the bad luck they have.
Solid concrete reinforced towers. 2nd poshest address in Guttenberg, 2 bedroom units with a view of the city sell for around $550k.
I've been in these apartments, either the exact layout or the mirror image, I can't find a way that you couldn't get out alive in that apartment unless you had flammable carpeting or wall hangings.
If they were in a 1 bedroom unit it seems almost impossible, there are no walls to block your exit.
1bedroom units have nothing impeding exit:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/for/243089638.html
2bedroom units have a open ADA compliant doorway between kitchen and dining/living room, the hall to bedroom is only 3 or 4 feet long.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/rfs/242935310.html
Very suspicious.
Prayers to her family.
I have to amend that,
I can't find a way that you couldn't get out alive in that apartment if awake when the fire started, unless you had flammable carpeting or wall hangings, or went back to save your pets.
She might have gone back to round up the panicking dogs.
The 911 Truthers are going to have a Field Day with this one.
Her fiancé, Kevin Roderick. and dogs were saved I hear!
Also the neighbors said they heard a commotion before the fire alarm!
It's unthinkable that in aonebed room apt, the guy could/would leave and NOT drag his fiance out, unless..
"A neighbor reported hearing a commotion coming from Burlingame's apartment just before the fire alarms in the building sounded."
Sounds suspicious. Even if she were heavy, he could have dragged her to safety.
PRetty shocking story, I saw this briefly on the news, the apartment looked completely destroyed, windows out, etc.
Coincidently her aunt has a piece on Opinion Journal.com today re: the imams who got kicked off the airplane, iirc.
The article says the dogs died with her, the fiance escaped.
Prayers for the family...
Very tragic indeed. I'd say this qualified as breaking news, especially given the high regard most of us hold for the aunt.
The Galaxy has ALOT of security cameras in the parking garage, lobbies and elevators. Security is one of the featured selling points.
After today's Op-Ed by the victim's aunt, I'm sure Federal and NYPD anti-terrorism LEO will look at the case too. So from an accident, to a lover murder, to a network of Muslim extremists, all angles are going to get pursued.
Her aunt has some very powerful friends in high places, this case probably won't be sensationalized or even covered by the local tabloid media for long.
Kindly ping me if you post more..thanks again
The Truthers will assume it is all part of the 9/11 coverup, naturally.
ok I heard it on the radio and sometimes the imformation is up dated later!
You're right JerdeyHighlander. I've been in those apartments as well. It's hard to imagine not being able to get out once the smoke alarm starts going off.
Curiouser and curiouser.
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