Officials Investigate Deadly Boothwyn Fire

DELAWARE COUNTY (WTXF) - We learned of a devastating loss in Delaware County. A husband bursts into his burning home to save his wife, but it was too late.

Now shocked neighbors are trying to cope with the fact their friend is gone. That husband in the hospital burned trying to save his wife.

FOX 29's Brad Sattin spoke with the shocked community in Boothwyn, PA.

Neighbor Ruth Moton saw it all from her home across the street not believing how life could change in an instant.

"I went to the window and the whole side of the house was just engulfed in flames," Moton said. "It's very painful especially when someone just a half hour prior to that, I saw her with her beautiful blonde hair out in the backyard, playing with her grandchild."

Friends identify the victim as Brenda McCabe. In her home in the 2300 block of Blueball Avenue with her husband and grandchildren, when something sparked the fire. The children got out, as did her husband, who then turned back around.

"The husband did try to go in, and he's now at Crozier Chester burn unit," Fire Marshal David Holland said.

"He did, he broke in to save her. He's currently in the hospital now in ICU, so just keep praying for him," Patricia Davis, a longtime friend of the family said.

He couldn't save her. Up to 100 firefighters contained the fire in about 40 minutes.

"A lot of fire, a lot of heat, made an entrance into the dwelling and found the victim on the second floor." Fire chief Michael Byrne said.

'The victim's son and other family members... trying to comfort one another

A cause of what caused the fire is not yet known, but investigators are asking for any witnesses to call Upper Chichester Police.