PITTSBURGH — One person was killed in a fire in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood.
The fire started around 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon near the corner of Mount Vernon Street and North Homewood Avenue.
The victim was Cindy Hall Lavender, 52, according to her sister.
Fire crews found the victim on the first floor near the stairwell, according to police.
Officials said it appears the fire started on the first floor, then spread to the second floor and attic.
Family members said Lavender was on oxygen and she smoked.
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Fire investigators told family members that the oxygen tank blew up, starting the fire and killing Lavender. They said she was trying to make it out the door, but it was too late.
“Any time you have a tragedy like this it’s always disturbing,” Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said. “It was a very stubborn fire. The fire was up in the attic and it took a lot of work for the firefighters to extinguish it. Between the firefighters and police and medics, it was another good job. But it’s unfortunate there was a loss of life.”
A dog also suffered from smoke inhalation. There is no word on the animal's condition.
Family members are calling the death accidental.