MORGANTOWN, Ind. — A woman was killed in a fire at a home in a rural area in western Johnson County on March 20.
The Bargersville Fire Department tweeted that firefighters were on the scene of a fatal house fire in the 1400 block of South 700 West, which is right between Franklin and Martinsville. The home that had caught fire and other homes in the area have Morgantown addresses.
When firefighters were called to the fire at around 12 p.m., they were informed that this was a house fire with entrapment. When they arrived 13 minutes later, the home was fully engulfed in flames. Heavy black smoke coming from the home could also be seen from several miles away, according to the Bargersville Fire Department.
Family members on the scene told firefighters that Helen Doyle, 87, was still inside the home. When crews were able to get into the home safely, they found the Doyle dead. Firefighters say the woman lived in the home with two other family members who were not home at the time of the fire.
It took fire crews about 15 minutes to get the fire under control. One firefighter was taken to the hospital for a medical checkout.
Mike Pruitt, deputy chief of the Bargersville Fire Department, said the fire was brought under control a little after 3:30 p.m.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office as well as Bargersville and White River Township firefighters are investigating.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Doyle's cause of death is still pending autopsy results.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.