Caroline Drive Fire Kills Woman

Updated at 8:29 a.m.

A woman has died in a house fire at 37955 Caroline Dr., officials reported.

Jane Rooney, 83, was found dead in the living room of the home by Avon firefighers, said Lorain County Coroner Dr. Paul Matus. The cause of her death had not yet been established, he said. 

Avon fire chief Frank Root said the cause of the fire appeared to be related to smoking, but that no official cause had been established. The state fire marshal's office is assisting Avon fire officials in the fire investigation, as is customary in fatal fires. 

The fire was reported around 8:23 p.m., said Avon Fire Captain Michael Emling. He reported heavy smoke coming from the single-story home.

Root said neighbors, who called in the fire, tried to get into the home but were pushed back by the smoke and heat from the fire. They saw Rooney in the living room as they tried to get in, Root said, but they realized she was already dead.

Root said that there was heavy smoke damage throughout the home, and extensive fire damage in the living room.

Firefighters from Avon, North Ridgeville, Avon Lake and Sheffield Village fought the fire, bringing it under control around 8:35 p.m. Sheffield Village supplied an engine truck, North Ridgeville also supplied an engine truck and support, Avon Lake provided an ambulance.

No one else was injured.

This was the first fatal fire in Avon since January of 2009, when Claudia Sherry, 63, died in a fire at her Applewood Court condominium.