Jaqueline Geffrard, a grandmother, killed in New Cassel house fire

A blind grandmother who had one leg amputated several years ago was killed Thursday morning in a fast-moving blaze in New Cassel.

Jaqueline Geffrard, 73, was killed in the fire in a single-story home on Division Avenue, Nassau County police said. Eight other residents evacuated the home before police responded.

The difficult conditions prevented a search for the victim until the fire, reported at 11:13 a.m., was extinguished at around 11:45 a.m., police said.

Marie Geffrard of Baldwin said her sister worked in the hotel industry, but got ill several years ago with diabetes and became blind and had one leg amputated, forcing her to retire.

Jaqueline Geffrard, she said, moved into the New Cassel home with her son-in-law about two years ago.

"She was a very loving and caring person," Marie Geffrard said. "She would do anything for anybody."

Marie Geffrard said her sister was not married and had a daughter who lives in Canada.

A lieutenant from the Westbury Fire Department, who was attempting to rescue Geffrard, suffered burns to his hands, Uttaro said.

The Westbury Fire Department, along with 10 other volunteer departments, responded to the scene.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation by the fire marshal investigators and Nassau County police arson detectives, but is not considered suspicious, police said.

The fire, Marie Geffrard said, appears to have started in the kitchen.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.