Woman rescued in fire dies

Published 3:55 pm Sunday, December 2, 2012

A woman who had been rescued from a burning home by Suffolk firefighters on Saturday died on Sunday at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, according to a Suffolk official.

Mary Rodgers, 69, was being treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation and burns to her body after being pulled by firefighters from the Mallard Drive home Saturday morning.

The home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at 9:06 a.m. Outside, they found Rodgers’ 64-year-old sister, Janet Boyle, the homeowner, being attended to by neighbors, Suffolk spokeswoman Diana Klink stated in a press release on Saturday.

Email newsletter signup

Rodgers was located about 20 feet inside the home. Rescuers took her to Sentara Obici Hospital by ambulance, and she was flown by helicopter from there to Norfolk.

Two dogs escaped the fire and were being cared for by neighbors. A cat was found dead inside the home.

Firefighters had the blaze under control at 9:27 a.m., less than 30 minutes after receiving the 911 call. More than half the home had been destroyed.

The fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the blaze.