Elderly Woman Rescued From Burning Home Dies

SARASOTA, FL — The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has announced a sad turn of events following a residential fire that sent an 83-year-old woman to the hospital last week. Nira McCollum, the woman deputies pulled from the burning home, has died.

McCollum was rescued by deputies after her home on Sarasota's 24th Street went up in flames around 10:15 p.m. Jan. 27. Deputies James Crosby and Lindsey Fischer were the first to arrive on the scene. When the two were informed McCollum was inside the flame-engulfed home, they began attempting to break down the back door.

“With assistance from an unidentified Good Samaritan, Deputy Crosby and the bystander broke through a bathroom window allowing Deputy Crosby to enter the residence,” the sheriff’s office reported.

Heavy smoke forced Crosby to return outside, but he reentered moments later with help from Deputy Michael Buehler.

Fischer, the sheriff’s office said, cleared an exit while Crosby and Buehler carried McCollum out of the home. Deputies performed CPR while waiting for medical assistance to arrive. McCollum was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Her death was announced Friday, Feb. 3.

The fire at McCollum’s home remains under investigation, according to the sheriff’s office. “At this time, it has not been deemed suspicious in nature,” the agency noted in an email to media.

McCollum’s cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner’s office.

No further information is available at this time.

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