Newfane woman dies in fire

Local News

August 25, 2012

Newfane woman dies in fire

STAFF REPORTS Lockport Union-Sun & Journal The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Sat Aug 25, 2012, 03:00 AM EDT

Lockport Union-Sun & Journal — NEWFANE— A 57-year old McLelland Road woman died in a house fire on Thurday night.

Kathleen Trotter was found dead in her home at 5360 McClelland as volunteers from five area companies responded to the 8:20 p.m. fire alarm. She was the only person in the house.

Niagara County Sheriff’s deputies arriving reported the home to be fully involved in fire.

According to reports, the house appeared to be unsafe to enter and other personnel were unable to gain entry or get an answer when calling out. It was reported that Trotter was most likely inside the house because her vehicle was in the driveway.

Deputy Tracy Steen was one of the responding patrols and had attempted to make entry but was pushed back by smoke from the house. Steen was treated by Olcott EMS for smoke inhalation and then taken by patrol car to ECMC for evaluation.

The Niagara County Fire Investigation Team reported that nothing appears suspicious. The investigation is continuing.

Investigators are reported to be focusing their probe on the kitchen area.

After a lengthy time, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. Trotter’s body was found in the southeast bedroom on the floor near the bed.

Sheriff James Voutour told Ch. 4 News that it appers to be “a tragic accident,” speculating that Trotter may not have been aware there was a fire in a different room. He added that Trotter lived alone.

Deputies spoke to Trotter’s daughter, who told them that she had spoken to her mother by phone about an hour earlier and “nothing seemed different.”

Miller Hose, Olcott Fire Co., South Wilson, Barker and Wrights Corners Fire Co. were all called to the fire.