Elderly woman dies after condo fire

LAUDERHILL, Fla. (WSVN) -- A woman has died after firefighters rescued her from her burning apartment.

Vincent Walker said his wife, Merline, died inside the couple's burning apartment on 15th Street and Northwest 43rd Avenue, Monday morning. Walker said he saw his wife for the last time right before he went off to work.

According to Lauderhill Fire Rescue, they were forced to bring out heavy machinery to tackle the blaze and enter the apartment, because the things that were piled in the apartment made it difficult for them to make their way inside. "They're slowly moving things out of their apartment, while they try to find the origin," said Lauderhill Fire Rescue spokesman Stephen Grasso.

Fire crews transported the woman to the hospital, where she was responsive. However, after a short while, Merline passed away.

The elderly woman's relatives and friends said they are devastated. "It's crazy man. That's my big sister," said one man on the scene.

"I'm so frightened and surprised to know that she died like this. I can't believe it, that she died like this," Monica Powell said as she held back tears.

Officials said this fire is not the first in this condo complex. In May, an entire building was reduced to rubble after a relentless blaze. Several people were left homeless, but they all managed to escape alive.

Authorities are still investigating the scene to determine where the fire happened and what caused it.

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