Leechburg woman dies in house fire

A Leechburg woman died Tuesday morning in a fire at her home.

Armstrong County Coroner Brian Myers identified the victim as 60-year-old Betty Bail.

The state police fire marshal’s office said pets also perished in the fire in the 300 block of Logan Avenue.

In a release, Myers said the blaze started about 8:45 a.m.

“When we arrived on scene, there was heavy smoke in the rear of the structure,” Leechburg fire Chief Tom Foster said.

It took about 45 minutes to extinguish the fire, Foster said.

Bail was found in the kitchen of her home after she was unable to escape, Myers said.

The fire started in the rear of the home, and Bail was the only person there, according to Foster.

A firefighter was treated and released at the scene because of the heat, Foster said.

Next-door neighbors Blaze Stark and Greg Mellish were alerted to the fire when their mother told them about the flames.

“The flames were barreling out (of the home),” Stark said.

“Smoke was everywhere,” Mellish said. “It was pretty bad.”

Randy Ryan, who lives nearby, said he was in Lower Burrell when his sister called to let him know his neighbor’s house was on fire. When he got home, the house still was burning.

Myers said there were no signs of foul play. The fire’s cause remains under investigation by the state police fire marshal office and Leechburg police.

Bail’s cause of death will be determined following an autopsy. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Kelly Corridoni Funeral Home.