Fire Ravages Bala Cynwyd Artist's House

A 77-year-old Bala Cynwyd artist's home burned from basement to roof Tuesday night as firefighters and family searched frantically for her, succeeding after more than an hour.

Irma Shapiro's six-bedroom Cape Cod at 302 Penbree Circle, just south of , caught fire a little before 9 p.m., Lower Merion Fire Chief Chas McGarvey said. Police arrived first, and an officer who broke into the home in search of occupants was hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

Several fire companies worked to contain the blaze in 60 to 70 minutes, McGarvey said. The home was heavily damaged.

During much of the firefighting effort, no one was able to ascertain where the home's lone resident, Shapiro, was. Just before 10:30, a relative reached her by phone and determined she had been in an art class in the area, not at home, McGarvey said.

Shapiro's website says she has sold paintings out of her home studio and at area galleries. Patch could not reach her by telephone for comment after the fire.

Property records show the house was built in 1956 and sold to Leonard and Irma Shapiro in 1960. It is assessed at $309,600 and has about 4,300 square feet of living area.

Among the dozens of residents standing outside on Penbree Circle to watch the fire response was George Manos, a Bala Cynwyd representative on the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners.

"It's a scary thing," the commissioner said, observing the scope of the effort. Responding fire companies included , , , Gladwyne and Penn Wynne.

Patch editor Danielle Vickery contributed to this report.