Rafael Bonefont died attempting to save Elijah A. Rivera and Arkedio R. Bonefont from burning, Amsterdam, New York, February 1, 1998. Elijah, 17; Arkedio, 7, and their father, Bonefont, 55, merchant marine, were in second-floor bedrooms of the family’s house when fire broke out on the first floor, in the kitchen, at night. Bonefont awakened his wife, who was asleep on the first floor, and alerted her to the fire, then took her to the front door and outside to safety. As flames grew rapidly, Bonefont re-entered the house through the front door and went up the stairs to the second floor. The house was destroyed by fire. Bonefont, Elijah, and Arkedio were removed from the house later that day; all had succumbed to effects of the fire.
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