MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — State police and fire officials confirm one person is dead and another was airlifted to a hospital with injuries after a devasting fire in Monroe County.
The fire started around 7 a.m. Wednesday at a home on Hill Road in Chestnuthill Township, near Effort.
Siv Henriksen of Chestnuthill Township was home when she saw heavy smoke and bright orange flames.
"The ambulance woke me up about 7:15 or so, and the flames were quite high, and the crackling noise I could actually hear from here, from the house. So that's kind of scary."
Photos from another neighbor show the damage done to the home.
Firefighters say four people — two adults and two children — were in the house when the fire started.
State police confirmed one person did not make it out and died inside the home. The victim was identified by investigators as Lisandra Ortiz, 44, of Chestnuthill Township.
Fire officials say another person was airlifted to the hospital.
Emergency crews from the local level to the state level responded to the home.
"Staffing is always a condition during the day, so we had five departments that I know of that were here," said Don Zipp, Chestnuthill Township fire marshal.
Fire officials say a firefighter with the West End Fire Department was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion. We're told he is OK.
Henriksen says this is a reminder to always be alert.
"We live in a community, in an area where we don't have fire hydrants or firefighters so quick to get to us, and you know you really have to double-check your property. Make sure you have working fire alarms and anything else that you can have with you, even fire extinguishers."
The Red Cross is helping the family.
Nearby neighbors say their hearts hurt for the people who lost their homes.
"I really feel for the family," a neighbor said. "I didn't know them, but the husband was quite upset. I could hear the echo from here, and I believe there is some younger child. Just tragic."
Investigators said the fire does not appear to be suspicious.
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