W.V. firefighters rescue woman in smoky blaze

An 65-year-old woman who was unable to escape from her smoke-filled home Sunday is in serious condition after firefighters broke down a locked door to get her to safety.

West Valley City Fire Department Assistant Chief Kris Romijn said the call for the fire came about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, at a home near 3300 South and 3330 West. When firefighters arrived, they heard someone knocking on the locked front door from the inside of the home. They forced the door open and found the woman leaning against the wall inside the smoke-filled room.

Firefighters removed the woman, and doused a fire that Romijn said was likely caused by something left on the stove in the kitchen.

The woman was transported to LDS Hospital and reported to be in serious condition from the effects of smoke inhalation. Romijn said the woman relied on a walker and likely became trapped after being incapacitated by breathing smoke from the fire.

Romijn said four family pets were also rescued from the blaze, which caused about $40,000 in damage.

— Arthur Raymond