A rural Waltonville woman received severe burns and smoke inhalation when going back inside her burning doublewide mobile home early Monday night to try and find her dog.
Waltonville Fire Chief Jerry Newell says the home in the 7700 block of North Cherryville Lane four miles east of Waltonville was fully engulfed in flames upon their arrival after initially being spotted by a passerby.
When learning one of the occupants had gone back into the home, firefighters went in and found her on the floor of the laundry room. She was unconscious when firefighters found her. They provided CPR and along with Litton Ambulance were able to revive her. She was taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital and then airlifted to a Springfield hospital for treatment. Newell was told she was in stable condition as of Monday night. The woman’s name has not been released.
The dog was also found alive in a back bedroom by firefighters.
The State Fire Marshal’s office was called to investigate the cause of the fire. When the passerby first spotted the blaze, it covered the front porch and front room of the home.
Waltonville called Jefferson County, Mt. Vernon City, Woodlawn, and Sesser Firemen for mutual aid. Coello Firemen stood by at the Waltonville fire station.
The fire call came in at 7:32 Monday night.
