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Woman Dead After Blaze Near Berwick

MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP — A woman is dead and fire destroyed a home in Columbia County Friday afternoon.

MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP -- Officials say 77-year-old Sarah Suckey, known as Sally, is dead after a fire at a Mifflin Township home Friday.

Fire crews say the house on Haskell Lane near Berwick caught fire around 2 p.m. in the afternoon.

The flames and smoke could be seen from nearby Interstate 80.

Several drivers called 911 after spotting the fire.

Among the first on the scene was a police officer from the South Centre/Mifflin Township police department.

"He arrived on scene. The whole upper floor was engulfed in flames, he tried to make entry into the rear door, knowing that the lady is older and handicapped, he tried to make entry, could only get in a few feet,” said Police Chief William Richendrfer.

That police officer managed to save a dog.

Fire officials say they arrived quickly and immediately began to search for Suckey and her partner, who they feared was also inside.

"We were looking for him not actually knowing he was at work, but the people who actually own the house were here, they were renters, and they settled that,” said Mifflinville Fire Rescue Chief Mike Beaver.

That man was at work at the time of the fire.

Fire crews say Suckey was found dead in her bed; they say she had difficulty getting around on her own.

"It's really upsetting and I don't really understand like how it happens, my dad was really good friends with them and the lady that lived there,” said Hailey Slusser of Mifflin Township.

"It's really bad and it's really upsetting. My gram was really good friends with her, too,” said Kaiya Titus of Mifflin Township.

A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

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