Woman, 80, dies in fire in Yates this morning
Photos by Tom Rivers
YATES – A woman, 80, died this morning in a fire at her home on Route 18, Orleans County Undersheriff Chris Bourke said at the scene.
Firefighters and deputies were dispatched to the house at 4:54 a.m. The house was full of thick black smoke. The fire appears to have started in the rear of the house.
The woman likely died of smoke inhalation. She was on the phone with an Orleans County dispatcher, trying to get out of the house, when she likely passed away.
The woman’s name isn’t being released, pending family notifications.
Deputies arrived to the scene on Route 18, just west of Breeze and Foss roads, nine minutes after the 911 call. The doors were locked. One deputy injured his hand, breaking the glass on a door to gain entry. That isn’t a serious injury, Bourke said.
About 50 firefighters responded to the call from Lyndonville, Carlton, Ridgeway, Shelby, Middleport and Medina.
Orleans County and state fire investigators are on scene to determine the cause of the fire. Dale Banker, the Emergency Management Office coordinator for the county, said he expects the Yates highway department will be on the scene later today to help tear down the house.
