An elderly couple trying to stay warm was torn apart by a fire.
The two-story house blaze left an elderly woman dead and her elderly companion hurt Tuesday morning.
Firefighters responded to the 1900 block of N Stanley Street in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia just before 9 a.m. to find a two-story home on fire.
Light smoke could be seen coming from the structure when firefighters arrived, according to Executive Chief Richard Davison.
Leroy Parker, 86, was outside the home screaming for help when crews arrived. Authorities searched the home and found the woman, believed to be his companion, dead in an upstairs bedroom.
Medics rushed Parker to Temple University Hospital in stable condition.
Neighbors identified the woman as Martha Frasier. They say she was in her 90's, had poor vision and little to no heat inside her home.
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None of the six smoke alarms in the home worked at the time of the blaze.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
"We know that the fire started in a first-floor front room, said Deputy Commissioner Derrick Sawyer. "We know that they were using a portable heater and the fire marshal is investigating at this time -- trying to determine a cause."
Sawyer said it's possible the kerosene heater caused nearby items to catch fire.
