Fire claims life of Michigan woman
Firefighters found body while battling blaze in wooded area
5/2/2013MILAN, Mich. -- Firefighters battling a field fire Wednesday in Monroe County's London Township found the body of a woman who tried to escape the flames.
The woman was identified as Anna Eliva Pinto, 76, of the 10000 block of Darling Road.
Monroe County sheriff's deputies said that a wooded area near Darling and Tuttlehill roads was fully engulfed in flame when the Milan Area Fire Department arrived about 3 p.m.
Milan firefighters found the woman's body near the eastern edge of the wooded area and called the sheriff's office. Deputies believe the woman had been burning brush in several small piles when the wind caused the fires to grow out of control. The woman tried to escape, but was overcome by smoke and flames, deputies said.
The sheriff's aviation and canine units surveyed the area and found no other victims, deputies said.