Fire Kills Woman Despite Rescue Try

Despite a daring rescue by a passer-by and firefighters, a 69-year-old woman died from injuries suffered during a fire in her Burbank house Friday morning, authorities said.

Shirley Huettel was rushed to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, where she was pronounced dead at 11:07 a.m. She suffered third-degree burns over 40% of her body, police said.

The fire was reported about 7:40 a.m. in the 200 block of South Lomita Street when a man walking in the neighborhood noticed smoke coming from the victim’s house. The man barged in and found Huettel unconscious in the living room.

Police and firefighters responded shortly after the man entered the home and assisted him with the rescue, authorities said. No one else was inside the house.

One police officer was treated for smoke inhalation and released.

The fire was limited to the living room, police said. A preliminary investigation revealed the fire may have been caused by a cigarette, authorities added.