A Tyrone woman, 18-year-old Beth Ann Nelson, died Sunday morning as a result of smoke inhalation suffered from a fire at a mobile home on Henrietta Road in North Woodbury Township.
Another woman, 20-year-old Leah Hoover of Martinsburg also died as a result of smoke inhalation in the blaze which broke out around 7 a.m.
The owner of the home, 21-year-old Michael Smouse, was taken by medical helicopter to a hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment at a burn unit.
According to Martinsburg Fire Chief Randy Acker, fire personnel rescued Smouse from a bedroom window.
Another man, 21-year-old Andrew Weitzel of Roaring Spring, was treated and released at Nason Hospital in Roaring Spring, according to a spokesperson there. Acker said Weitzel had already escaped the structure and was in the front yard when fire crews arrived.
Acker said a dog also died in the blaze.
He said the center of the mobile home was fully involved when firefighters arrived on the scene. Acker said it is believed the fire started in the living room. He said the state police fire marshal is investigating the blaze. Acker said the fire marshal was on the scene for several hours yesterday. A cause for the fire has yet to be determined.
Acker said fire crews were told the women were still in the house. He said searches were conducted and the bodies were found in the structure.
Acker said crews from Martinsburg, Roaring Spring, Southern Cove and an engine from Williamsburg responded to the scene. Blair County Coroner Patty Ross investigated the deaths of the two women.
Nelson was a 2004 graduate of Tyrone Area High School and was attending the South Hills Business School in Altoona. Her complete obituary and photo are on page two of today’s edition of The Daily Herald.
