Elderly Woman Killed In Delaware County Fire
By Dan Wing, Nicole Brewer
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Authorities in Delaware County say an elderly woman was killed during an overnight fire in Yeadon.
Fire officials say the blaze in the 1800 block Providence Road was called in around 2:48 a.m. and when fire fighters arrived on scene they found heavy flames coming from the first floor of the residence.
Authorities say a 76-year-old woman was taken from the front porch of the home, and was pronounced dead.
Heavy smoke made its way to the second and third floors, sending fire damage to the roof as well.
Keith Jackson says his aunt, identified by family as 76-year-old Marilyn Cramer, was staying with his parents because she was not well. He believes she fell asleep smoking on the enclosed front porch of their home.
"I had that selfish feeling, you know… thank God it's not my parents, but my aunt perished," explained Jackson.
The fire was brought under control in less than a half an hour, but the cause remains under investigation. Fire officials say freezing temperatures made it a tough job to bring the fire under control.
"We encountered a lot of ice, and crews are walking gingerly on the ice," says Deputy Fire Chief Michael Melazzo. "We were able to get salt down right away, but we're waiting for the major salt trucks to get here to help us out."
Smoke alarms alerted three other occupants of the home to get out safely. They are staying with family now as fire fighters and repair crews finish the job.
It appears the elderly woman killed is Delaware County's first fire fatality of 2015.