An elderly woman died early Tuesday in a fire that gutted her northwest Atlanta home, a disaster that triggered a perilous rescue operation after a floor collapsed on a firefighter.
Emergency crews arrived at 2920 Larchmont Court NW at approximately 5:30 a.m. to find the two-story split-level house engulfed in flames, according to CBS News. Firefighters reported heavy fire pouring from all sides of the structure upon their arrival.
The urgency of the situation intensified when a resident from a nearby building alerted crews that the woman lived alone inside. Firefighters immediately launched search and rescue efforts, battling intense heat throughout the layout of the home.
The mission turned increasingly dangerous as the team faced a downed live power line obstructing the front yard. The situation deteriorated further when a partial second-floor collapse trapped a crew member inside the burning building.
Command staff declared an emergency for the trapped firefighter following the structural failure. Rapid intervention teams were deployed to the scene and located the firefighter quickly, allowing the emergency declaration to be cancelled.
Firefighters eventually located a person inside the ruined structure after knocking down visible flames and conducting additional searches. The Fulton County Medical Examiner responded to the scene to handle the remains.
Investigators remain on-site working to determine the origin and cause of the blaze. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the victim pending notification of next of kin and official identification by the medical examiner’s office.
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