Woman dies in Mercer County fire

MERCER

The Pennsylvania State Fire Marshall is investigating the cause of a fire that left an 88-year-old woman dead.

Jefferson Township firefighters received a call at 7:10 p.m. Friday and arrived to find a 100-year-old farmhouse on Charleston Road engulfed in flames, said fire chief Jeff Lockard.

Three hours later, after the blaze was extinguished and a backhoe was used to shift through debris, firefighters located the body of Rose Minick on the first floor of the residence, he said.

The Mercer County Coroner’s Office is investigating the cause of death. Ten fire departments responded to the call, Lockard said.