Fulton County blaze in home injures 3

10/1/2010

SWANTON - Authorities Thursday were investigating the cause of a Swan Creek Township house fire that injured a woman and the two firefighters who rescued her.

The woman, who neighbors say is in her 50s, was admitted to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center.

Her name was withheld per patient privacy laws, Swanton Assistant Fire Chief Kelvin Davis said.

The two firefighters, whose names were also withheld, were treated for smoke inhalation at St. Luke's Hospital, Chief Davis said.

Tom Wood, a next-door neighbor, said he was working in his garage about 8 p.m. Wednesday when he heard noise from the house at 3176 U.S. 20A.

Mr. Wood then saw a neighbor from the other side of the victim's house knocking on her doors and windows. When they got no response, the neighbor's wife called 911 and reported smoke at the victim's house, he said.

Fire crews arrived shortly thereafter, forced entry through the front and back doors, found the victim, and pulled her to safety, Chief Davis said.

The blaze at the single-story, wood-frame house was extinguished within 20 minutes with help from the Delta Community Fire Department, the assistant fire chief said.

Damage was limited to the contents of the living room, with no dollar estimate available. The fire was considered accidental.