SOMERSET, N.S. — A 72-year-old woman is dead after a house fire near Waterville, Kings County, early Thursday morning.
Waterville firefighters were called to a single-storey home on West Steadman Road in Somerset shortly before 6:30 a.m.
There was a large amount of fire when the first firefighting unit arrived and the west end of the building was heavily charred.
"It was fully involved on the west end and there was smoke throughout," Waterville Fire Chief Wayne Johnstone said from the scene.
"Someone attempted to get the occupants out prior to us arriving, but he had to get out because of the smoke."
Johnstone said only one person lived in the home.
The west end of the home included a porch, Johnstone said. That end of the building was heavily charred, and the outside wall on that end had burned away. Siding on the top part of the front wall was melted around the two windows on that side of the house..
Two representatives from the fire marshal's office, along with the RCMP and the medical examiner's office, are investigating. An autopsy will be conducted.
Late Thursday afternoon, fire officials said the blaze was electrical in nature and started in the porch.
Firefighters from Kentville, Berwick and Aylesford also responded to the call.
Firefighters left the scene at about 2:30 p.m.
