Two women who were pulled from a burning home near New Castle early Saturday morning have died, bringing the total number of fire fatalities so far this year to 14, the state fire marshal’s office said.
The women, who have not yet been publicly identified, were 72 and 90 years old. The 72-year-old woman died Saturday, while the 90-year-old died Sunday.
Fire officials will release their names once family has been notified.
Minquadale Fire Company firefighters were called to the first block of Onaway Place, located in the Garfield Park neighborhood, just before 6:15 a.m. for reports of the blaze.
There, they found flames “shooting” from the one-story house and were told that people may be trapped inside, the state fire marshal’s office said.
As Minquadale first responders began dousing the fire, firefighters from at least two other local departments ran into the burning home and began searching for residents. They found the two women critically injured and rushed them to awaiting emergency medical services personnel.
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The women were taken to Christiana Hospital, where both were initially listed in critical condition. They are the 13th and 14th people to die from a fire this year, compared with 10 people total who died in 2021.
Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio said investigators are still working to determine where the fire started and what caused it.
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