A house fire in Chillum has killed an elderly woman, fire officials said.
Firefighters were called to the 1400 block of Ray Road about 7:45 a.m. Saturday to find smoke and fire coming from the two-story home.
A neighbor alerted the firefighters that an woman had lived inside but may not have escaped. Her car was still in the driveway when firefighters arrived, Prince George's Fire Department spokesperson Mark Brady said.
Firefighters aggressively fought the fire and went to rescue the woman, Brady said. She was found dead on the first floor of the home.
The woman lived in the house for 25 years or more and lived an active lifestyle, neighbors told News4. Fire officials believe the woman lived in the house alone.
The home had one working smoke alarm on the lower level, which was not positioned to immediately detect smoke on the upper floors and provide a timely warning, fire officials said.
The cause is under investigation, but officials say it's not suspicious. The medical examiner will determine the woman's cause of death.
