Wood burner blamed in fire that killed 1

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- An overheated wood burner is to blame for a fire that killed a 37-year-old Lawrence County woman.
Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Mark Baer said the wood burner was in the garage of 3443 Cooper Road, Slippery Rock Township, when the fire started at 2:15 a.m. Sunday.
Lori Lee King McConnell apparently died as a result of injuries and smoke inhalation caused by the fire, he said. She was sleeping on the second floor with her two children; her husband, Frank David McConnell, was on the first floor.
Police said McConnell woke to smoke and called to his wife to get everyone out of the house. She verbally responded, and he ran upstairs to get their 6-year-old daughter.
McConnell sent his daughter to a neighbor and ran upstairs for his 9-year-old son, who was nearly unconscious at the top of the stairs. McConnell took the boy outside and returned for his wife but was unable to go up the stairs because of the heat and fire.
He was dragged out of the house by a neighbor, police said.
The boy was treated at Jameson Hospital for smoke inhalation.