Sad ending to Monday's fire

KEARNY – Sandra Yankowsky, 65, passed away this afternoon at 2 p.m. from injuries during a small fire in two-family home at 468 Hickory St. on June 2. She was in critical condition at Clara Maass Hosptial in Belleville.
Yankowsky was overcome by smoke after she called Life Alert on Monday, an alarm system that provides emergency home protection. The company alerted Kearny police and fire departments about the fire at 4:17 a.m. on Monday. The fire was put down within 10 minutes, said Fire Chief Steven Dyl.
Yankowsky lived in the first floor apartment by herself. When first responders arrived she was unconscious from smoke inhalation and had no pulse, said Dyl.
Kearny emergency medical services administered CPR but the woman did not respond.
Soon-to-be-Chief Fire Inspector Chuck Kerr said the cause of the one-alarm fire is still under investigation.