A Monday night blaze has claimed the life of an Elizabethtown woman.
The woman, identified by Hardin County Coroner Pat Elmore as 75 year-old Brenda “Barbara” Stewart was discovered inside the home. Her cause of death is undetermined pending results of an autopsy.
Steve Masterson has been Stewart’s next-door neighbor for close to 25 years. He reported the fire.
Masterson was working in his garage Monday when he heard what he described as “a real loud pop” and smelled what he thought was smoke from fireworks, thinking it was most likely a child that lives nearby on the cul-de-sac igniting some.
Not seeing anyone around, Masterson went back inside his garage and looked out his window. He saw smoke rolling out the top of her house. He grabbed a fir extinguisher and headed for Stewart’s front door but could not enter due to the severe smoke and heat.
Central Hardin Fire Department and Valley Creek Fire Department responded at 7:49 p.m. Monday to the house fire on Gayle Drive off Bardstown Road in Elizabethtown.
Upon arrival they were advised an elderly woman lived at the residence and it was confirmed by family that she was at home.
While the fire was under control by about 9 p.m., both fire departments had to suspend any further work while Elmore and Hardin County Sheriff’s Department carried out their investigations.
Fire crews finished extinguishing the fire and cleared out at midnight.
The home sustained very extensive fire damage and there was no indication what caused the fire, according to Central Hardin Fire Chief Jeremy Goodman.
Hardin County EMS also was on scene for medical support.
Because Stewart rarely left the home and stayed mostly in her bedroom, Masterson would have conversations with her on occasion through the window. He cannot recall seeing her outside of the home since early this spring.
She had a large dog that kept her company but no one has seen the dog since the fire.
Source: NE
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