CLEVELAND — A 62-year-old woman died early Tuesday morning when fire engulfed her West 148th Street home, despite rescue efforts by a resident and neighbor.
Cleveland Division of Fire officials said the blaze started around 2:06 a.m. at the ranch-style home. When firefighters arrived, the structure was fully engulfed in flames and the woman was found dead on the front porch.
“We’ve had a fatality out here on West 148th this morning,” said Cleveland Division of Fire Public Information Officer Lieutenant Mike Norman. “Just a tragic situation out here this morning.”
Three people lived in the home: the victim, her son, and his girlfriend, who had been staying in the basement to help care for the woman. The son was not home when the fire broke out.
Fire officials said it was the girlfriend who woke up to smoke and attempted to rescue her boyfriend’s mother. Cleveland Fire Department officials praised the “valiant rescue efforts” made by the resident and a neighbor.
The entire ceiling of the home’s first floor was destroyed. Officials said it remains unclear whether smoke alarms were present and functioning at the time of the fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but arson is not suspected. Damage is estimated at $200,000. No firefighters were injured in the response.
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