Jojean Charlie, the oldest resident of the Yup'ik village of Newtok, was killed in a house fire that was apparently started by a grandson playing with a lighter.

The fire started Saturday night. A passerby was able to save two others in the house but was unable to reach Charlie, 88.

"When I think of that night, I only wish I could have saved 'Grandma,'" Clifford Usugan told The Anchorage Daily News.

Charlie only spoke Yup'ik and lived in Newtok for almost half of her life.

Get the Story:
Newtok fire kills oldest woman, 88 (The Anchorage Daily News 11/21)
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