A Bronx man died when his apartment went up in flames early Monday morning.

Neighbors at 1775 Bruckner Blvd. said they smelled smoke coming from the apartment of Kenneth Jackson, a 55-year-old resident who had been left crippled and blinded by a stroke. Neighbors suspect that Jackson's medical problems would have made it difficult for him to escape the blaze. Jackson was dead by the time firefighters arrived on the scene.

The fire was contained to the bedroom in Jackson's third-floor apartment. Fire marshals are inspecting charred and broken furniture from the apartment to determine the cause of the fire.

The lone survivor, a cat named Kenny, was given to Jackson by a female neighbor. She says she wants to take care of the cat as a tribute to her deceased friend.