Homeless Women Found Dead in NY, St. Louis Fires

In Brooklyn, a 40-year-old homeless woman was found dead after a fire broke out in a vacant building on 67th Street in Dyker Heights, where she had been squatting. The building had experienced five previous fires in the last two years, and its current state is considered unstable. Firefighters faced challenges due to the building being sealed off, delaying their ability to address the blaze. Separately, in St. Louis, another unhoused woman was found dead near city hall amid dangerously cold weather. Officials noted that excess shelter beds were available at the time, and no foul play is suspected in either case, with causes of death pending further investigation. These incidents highlight ongoing issues of homelessness and the risks faced by this vulnerable population, particularly in extreme weather conditions.