Jan 12, 2017 1 min read

One person died in a fire at a West Bethlehem Township house Thursday evening.

Multiple fire companies, including those from Marianna, Ellsworth, West Bethlehem, East Bethlehem and Richeyville, and other emergency personnel responded to a call at 5:53 p.m. for a structure fire at 1204 Barr Run Road, Marianna.

Crews directed water from atop a ladder truck to battle flames from the second story of the home, which continued to flare and smoke two hours after the original call came in.

The victim, whose name has not yet been released, was a close friend of neighbor Maple Vought.

“She was like a daughter to me,” Vought said.

Vought said the woman was probably asleep in an upstairs bedroom when the fire broke out.

A passing motorist noticed flames coming from the home and notified Vought, who called 911.

State police and deputies from the Washington County Coroner’s office were on the scene.