Staff Report
TERRE HAUTE — An elderly North Terre Haute woman died following a fire at her home late Thursday.
It is the second smoking-related fire death in two weeks, according to Otter Creek Township Trustee Robert Salman.
The name of the victim has not yet been released.
The fire occurred at 6525 N. 35th St. off Terrace Avenue. The first call for help came in around 10:20 p.m. as a medical alert, and the first fire alarm came in around 10:40 p.m.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the incident, Salman said, since it involves a lift chair in which the victim had been sitting. It appears, however, that the fire was started by a cigarette dropped into the lift chair, which caught fire.
Salman said the woman was able to get out of the area of the fire, but was overcome by smoke. She was found collapsed on the floor by a family member who lives nearby.
Salman said the fire was contained to one room of the house, and damage was mostly due to smoke.
The woman was resuscitated and taken to Union Hospital for treatment, Salman said. She later died.
The death follows a Dec. 5 incident in which another North Terre Haute resident died as the result of a fire that starting due to a burning cigarette.
See Saturday's Tribune-Star and tribstar.com for additional coverage.
