NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
ELDERLY WOMAN DIES IN FIREHarrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed tonight reported that an 80-year woman died of burn and smoke injuries in a general alarm fire at 2218 N. 3rd Street. The fire, first reported at 4:11 p.m. today, was caused by careless use of smoking materials. The victim was a heavy smoker. The fire originated in the mattress in the woman’s second floor front bedroom. The victim, Reba Geary, apparently tried to leave the bed after the fire started but firefighters found her still on the mattress, which was heavily burned in the blaze. The victim’s son, who also lives at the house, was on the third floor when he heard a smoke detector sound. He went to the second floor, saw flames and heavy smoke in his mother’s bedroom, and attempted to put out the fire with bathroom water but was unsuccessful. He then called city fire and police, who were on scene in three minutes. Damage is estimated at $25,000. The house is a single family dwelling and connected to an adjoining property as a duplex. The fire did not extend to the next door property, although firefighters had cut through the roof of the neighboring structure to check for any fire in the loft area. There was none. Reed said fire units remained on the scene until 5:19 p.m. The fire is being jointly investigated by city, county and State Police fire marshals, all of whom were at the scene. XXX |
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