SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — It was a tragic scene in Shaker Heights on Wednesday afternoon.
Shaker Heights Fire Chief Pat Sweeney confirmed to 3News that a 65-year-old woman was killed in a house fire. Per Sweeney, the fire was caused by a space heater.
"Unfortunately, the space heater caught the bedding and some clothing on fire that was too close to it and the fire spread very rapidly," he told 3News.
The University Heights Fire Department confirmed to 3News that the fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the 3600 block of Strathavon Road. According to a release from Shaker Heights, an adult male and two children were evacuated and transported to a local hospital for minor injuries and observation.
The house, which is a three-story home, serves as the residence to three different families. The woman was found in the basement after having succumbed to her injuries.
"We found her in the basement," Sweeney explained. "We think what happened was she was trying to make her way out of the house, there was a lot of fire even before the crews even got here, there was a lot of thick heavy black smoke. It's very easy to get disoriented."
911 calls painted a chilling picture of what was happening as the fire was going on. Neighbors can be heard trying to help get the woman out.
Kristen Robinson lives on the second floor. She jumped out of her window to safety along with her husband and her dog. "When you see smoke like that, that black billowing smoke, I mean I just go into survival mode and it was the only thing I could do," she told 3News. "There was no way I was going to make it down either staircase."
With the cause of the fire determined to be a space heater, Sweeney has a warning for residents as we prepare for holiday gatherings and colder temperatures.
"This is the time when people are using extensions cords and heating devices are kicking on and all the holiday lighting," Sweeney advises. "Be careful with the candles certainly with these heating devices."
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