Pa. woman killed in fire, grandson burned


January 24, 2012 at 8:36a.m.

Pa. woman killed in fire, grandson burned

WEST SUNBURY, Pa. (AP) — Fire officials say a house fire has claimed the life of a western Pennsylvania woman and badly burned her grandson, who tried to save her from the flames.

North Washington Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Nick Grove says the woman was asleep when the fire broke out Monday afternoon in Washington Township, Butler County.

Family members say the fire awakened the woman’s grandson upstairs but he was turned away by flames and heavy smoke when he tried to reach her. The 18-year-old called 911 and later flown to a Pittsburgh hospital.

Authorities have not released the victims’ names. The cause of the fire is under investigation.