Elderly woman hurt in fire

CALDWELL -- An elderly woman managed to escape from her home this morning after a fire nearly consumed it.

The fire started around 8:30 a.m. in a Caldwell neighborhood just off Interstate 84 and 10th Street.

A home health care worker said she had just pulled up to her client’s home when she saw the 83-year-old woman standing outside.  She then looked at the house and saw flames.

Sonia Patrick said the flames were six feet above the house and the woman had suffered some burns to her hair.  She quickly called for help.

The woman was taken by ambulance to West Valley Medical Center to get treatment for smoke inhalation.  The status of her injuries is unknown.

“She said she had her oxygen off.  She took her oxygen off her face and set it on the floor and went to go light a cigarette. The next thing you know she went up in flames," said Patrick.

Fire investigators are still determining the cause of the fire and are not sure if the oxygen was a factor.

Caldwell firefighters say the fire consumed 25 percent of the house and about 80 percent of the home is smoke damaged.

Patrick offered the fire victim a place to stay while she recovers.