An 83-year-old woman was killed, and a 55-year-old woman was critically injured in a house fire on Friday, December 19, 2025.
The fire broke out around noon in a residence located near North 6th Avenue and West Belden Avenue.
A 52-year-old man who lived in the home attempted to rescue the two women.
However, authorities stated that the intense heat and thick smoke prevented him from reaching them.
The man managed to escape the building with minor injuries.
Emergency crews arrived a short time later and entered the smoke-filled home.
Firefighters successfully pulled both women from the structure, but the 83-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 55-year-old woman was transported to a local hospital in critical condition before being moved to a specialized burn center for intensive care.
By Friday evening, crews had extinguished the fire, which had sent heavy smoke billowing through the neighborhood.
The cause of the fire and where it started remain under investigation.
Sheriff’s officials and fire investigators are working together to determine what sparked the tragedy.
