A 92-year-old woman pulled from a fire Tuesday in Bensalem died a short time later at a nearby hospital, officials said.
Julia Pachucki died at Temple University Hospital after firefighters found her inside a house on Byberry Road at 5:30 a.m., officials said. Her home near Knights Road was engulfed in flames and she had become trapped on the first floor.
"When I saw the stuff come flying out of the house I just said, 'Oh my God. I just hope they got to her,'" said Pachucki's friend and neighbor Bertha Kolias. "I saw more smoke than I saw anything."
Pachucki's son was also in the home at the time. He escaped the fire and called for help. He was taken to the hospital and is currently in critical condition.
The fire continued to burn more than two hours later causing Byberry Toad to be closed from Hulmeville to Knights roads. One firefighter suffered a minor injury while fighting the flames.
Firefighters found Pachucki in the front bedroom. They told NBC10 it was difficult getting to her due to items that were piled floor to ceiling.
"Every room in the hallways, in the kitchen, basement, first, second floor, anywhere you can think of there's debris everywhere," said Bensalem Battalion Chief Robert Sponher. "The fire was difficult enough with the smoke and the heat but then you add the amount of debris."
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Kolias told NBC10 Pachucki had an issue with hoarding.
"I saw a whole bunch of flames and I said, 'Oh, my God,'" Kolias said. "And I know she's a hoarder. I know that she has huge collections. I just couldn't imagine that she'd get out of there."
