A house fire leaves one elderly woman dead. It happened Friday night around 10 p.m. in the Sassafrass community of Knott County. Police say when they arrived, the house was completely engulfed in flames.
It was a quiet night on Concord Court until 88 year old Sallie G. Williams' house caught on fire.
"I looked out on the porch and I seen flames up at the horizon, more smoke than flames, but I knew there was a fire close by," said Bobby W. Yeary, a neighbor of Williams.
Some say they could see the flames from miles away.
"Very huge. The house was completely involved and the flames were probably about 30 or 40 foot in the air when I arrived," said Jeff Blair, the Knott County Coroner.
"It was probably one of the biggest fires I've ever been that close to than I can recall," Yeary said.
Fire officials say the fire was so big, it couldn't be put out by water. They had to contain the fire and let it burn out on it's own. Officials say they still don't know how the fire at the house started but they are continuing to investigate the situation.
They sat that Sallie G. Williams was in her bed when the fire happened and died from smoke inhalation.
"There's no foul play expected. Mrs. William's daughter in law was in the home with her and apparently smelled what she thought was electrical wiring," the coroner explained.
Williams' daughter in law did survive the fire and was sent to Hazard ARH. She has since been released. Funeral arrangements are pending right now for Sallie G. Williams at Maggard Brothers funeral home in Hazard.
House fire leaves one dead