LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE : Woman, 71, Dies in Attempt to Flee Burning House
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A La Canada Flintridge woman was killed when she failed to make it out of her burning home early Tuesday, authorities said. Her husband managed to escape the flames.
The body of 71-year-old Mary Whitson was found in the dining area of the home in the 4700 block of Rosebank Drive, Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Mark Savage said.
The couple was asleep when the blaze erupted, Savage said. Although the home had no smoke detectors, Harlan Whitson awoke and entered the smoke-filled hallway. He awoke his wife to lead her out, but she apparently fell behind and became disoriented by the smoke. After Harlan Whitson went to a neighbor’s home to call 911, he found that his wife had not escaped.
Firefighters responded at 1:21 a.m. and extinguished the fire within half an hour, Savage said. The cause was under investigation.
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