ST. MARYS – An 80-year-old St. Marys woman, Anna Mae Evans, sustained serious injuries after her house caught fire early Tuesday morning at 143 Hemlock Rd., reported the state police at Ridgway.
The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal, the St. Marys Police Department and the Crystal Fire Department investigated the origin and cause of the house fire. The fire ignited while Evans was smoking and utilizing oxygen, state police said.
According to state police, the fire was determined to be accidental in nature. Damage to the house is estimated at $65,000 with the fire being contained to one room. However, state police noted that significant smoke damage occurred throughout the house.
Upon arrival to the scene, St. Marys police located Evans in the doorway of the house. She was assisted from the house prior to the arrival of the fire department. Evans was initially transported to Penn Highlands Elk but later flown to the West Penn Burn Center in Pittsburgh with serious injuries.