Elderly woman dies in house fire on Englewood Avenue in Tonawanda

Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - A 71-year-old woman has died as the result of a house fire that broke out early Friday morning on Englewood Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda.

It was around 4:30 a.m. ET when Town of Tonawanda Police responded to a residential fire at 557 Englewood Avenue.

Three passersby near the scene were able to rescue one woman, 75-year-old Jeannie O’Day, from the burning home. She was taken to Erie County Medical Center for treatment due to smoke inhalation.

However, the second resident of the home, Mary Rogers, was unable to escape and passed away at the scene.

The fire is believed to have been caused by cigarette smoking.

The Town of Tonawanda Police Department's Criminal Investigation Bureau is currently investigating the incident. The investigation is ongoing, with the assistance of the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office and Erie County Sheriff’s Office Fire Investigator.

If anyone has any additional information about the incident, they're asked to contact the Town of Tonawanda Police Department at (716)-879-6614 or their confidential tip line at (716)-879-6606.