Man killed in Staten Island apartment fire identified; cause under investigation

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The NYPD identified Tudine Morton as the man who died in a fire at an apartment building in Clifton on Saturday.

Morton, 54, lived in the apartment building at 225 Park Hill Avenue where the fire occurred, according to a statement from the NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Officials said 21 FDNY units and 79 firefighters responded to the blaze that was reported at 8:08 p.m. on the second floor of the six-story building. The fire was brought under control in about an hour, at 9:15 p.m., according to the FDNY.

Morton was found unconscious and unresponsive when authorities arrived at the building. EMS pronounced him dead at the scene.

The fire is believed to have started in Morton’s apartment, where he was located by first responders, according to a law enforcement source.

The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation, an FDNY spokesperson said Tuesday.