Elderly woman killed in fire

By Tessa Lynady

GateHouse News Service

Thu Dec 20, 2007, 06:25 PM EST

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DAMASCUS, Pa. -

An elderly woman was killed Thursday when her house caught fire on Milanville Road near Beach Lake.

Lucille Dexter, 83, was the lone occupant of the small home nestled in the woods in rural Wayne County. The fire erupted during the early morning hours on Thursday.

According to Beach Lake Fire Chief Tony Franklin, the fire appears to be accidental.

“The exact cause has not yet been determined, but we’re leaning more towards it being an electric fire”, he stated. Fire departments from Beach Lake, White Mills, Welcome Lake, and Seelyville, from Wayne County, and Narrowsburg, Lava, Lake Huntington, and Tusten Ambulance were called out to the home at 4:34 a.m.

A neighbor who lives up the road from Mrs. Dexter reported the fire to 911.

“The neighbor who saw the fire called 911, while her husband tried to get Ms. Dexter out of the house,” explained Mr. Franklin.

It is unclear as to whether or not a smoke alarm was in use in the house.

The home, a small wooden structure situated in the countryside near the Pennsylvania/New York border, is still standing. In fact, snow could still be seen on the rooftop.

It is believed that the fire started somewhere in the back kitchen wall, either outside or inside, and it was easily contained upon the arrival of fire personnel.

“That’s what makes it such a bad tragedy -- considering that the fire itself wasn’t so bad,” Franklin said.

Wayne Independent