Coroner IDs victim of early morning house fire in Altoona

SECOND UPDATE |

BLAIR COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Fire officials say when arriving on scene they quickly learned one of the occupants of the home was trapped inside.

Altoona Fire Department fire inspector Justin Smithmyer says two people lived in the 8th Avenue home and one was outside when they got to the scene.

He says fire fighters made there way into the home and found the trapped person, later identified as 45-year-old Marcy Laird. They were able to get Laird out of the house according to authorities before EMS crews took her to a local hospital.

Blair County coroner Ray Benton says Laird was later pronounced dead in the emergency room.

Smithmyer says a cause to the fire is not yet determined. He says an investigation into the incident could potentially take weeks.

UPDATE |

Blair County coroner Ray Benton has identified the victim of Thursday morning's deadly house fire in Altoona.

Officials say the coroner's office was dispatched to UPMC Altoona, around 2 a.m., for a death investigation.

Authorities say the victim, identified as 45-year-old Marcy Laird, was pronounced dead in the emergency room after being transported from the fire at a residence along the 1900 block of 8th Ave.

Officials say Laird's death is under investigation and an autopsy is scheduled for Friday afternoon.

ORIGINAL |

911 officials in Blair County say the coroner was called to the scene of an early morning house in Altoona.

Authorities say Altoona firefighters were dispatched to the blaze, at a residence along 8th Avenue, just before 1 a.m.

Officials say crews cleared the scene at approximately 5:30 a.m.

911 dispatchers did not provide any further details on the investigation or if there were any other injuries.

Stay with 6 News online and on-air for further updates.

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