Ridgway Fire Claims Woman’s Life

RIDGWAY – An 89-year-old Ridgway woman, Elizabeth H. Verbeck, died after suffering injuries in an early morning fire Saturday that caused an estimated $150,000 worth of damage to her 8 Center Street residence, the Ridgway-based state police reported.

The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal and the Ridgway Borough police and fire departments investigated the origin and cause. The fire damaged her two-story wooden frame residence.

Emergency personnel were dispatched to the fire after reports of entrapment. After a preliminary investigation, the cause of the fire remains unknown; however, it is not a suspected arson, state police said.

The Crystal and Fox Township fire departments, Ridgway Ambulance and the Elk County District Attorney and Coroner’s offices assisted at the scene.