More details have been released concerning a fire in Derry Township on Christmas Eve that killed one person.
Westmoreland County coroner Timothy Carson said in a release that the victim, 78-year-old Esther Ann McChesney, was trapped inside her home on Pizza Barn Road on Christmas Eve and died from her injuries.
Preliminary autopsy results indicated that she died of smoke inhalation and possibly inhalation of carbon monoxide. Fire officials said she was found near a first floor bay window.
The fire was initially reported around 5:30 p.m., and drew firefighters from both Westmoreland and Indiana counties to the location on Pizza Barn Road.
By the time firefighters arrived on the scene, the whole first floor of the house was engulfed in flames and nearly gutted. No firefighters were injured in the fire, but they had to contend with the bitter cold temperatures, and making sure that their water lines did not freeze.
Fire officials said the fire started on the kitchen stove in the rear of the house.
