Florida woman dies in New Year’s Day fire

BY ERIKA NORTON
FLORIDA — The new year began in tragedy after a Florida woman was killed by an early-morning fire that gutted her home.
Madeline Gwozd, 69, died inside her home after a fire ripped through the 129 Hunt Drive residence on Jan. 1, 2018, according to Town of Warwick Police Lt. John Rader. Police and firefighters responded to reports of the fire at 1:20 a.m. and it took about three hours to bring the blaze under control.
After interviewing neighbors, Rader said they felt that there was somebody home at the time of the fire. Once the fire was under control, emergency personnel conducted a search and found Gwozd inside the home, where she was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Rader, the house was condemned that morning by the Warwick building department. Gwozd was the sole occupant of the house.
“It was pretty well gutted by the fire,” Rader said.
At this time, they believe the fire to be accidental in nature, Rader said, and have no reason to believe the fire to be suspicious.
The Warwick police are working with the Orange County Fire Investigation Unit and have not yet received the final report.