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Updated 3 minutes ago
A Penn Hills woman may have died before a Friday afternoon fire that started in the basement of her home in the Universal section of the municipality, according to authorities.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office identified the deceased resident as
Rita Ryan, 67.
Allegheny County Emergency Services Director Matthew Brown said the woman's husband left Friday morning to run errands and returned to find smoke coming from the home with his wife inside.
The homeowner reported the fire at about 1:10 p.m. and said he had pulled his wife from the home, Brown said. The Universal fire hall is about a half-mile from the two-story home at 2558 School St.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the woman died before the fire began,” Brown said. “Those findings are pending the cause and manner of death from the medical examiner.”
Penn Hills Assistant Fire Chief David Zacchia said emergency responders' attempts to revive the woman were unsuccessful.
The fire was contained to the basement and crews put it out quickly, Zacchia said.
No other injuries were reported. The fire's cause has not been determined. County and Penn Hills fire officials are investigating, Zacchia said.
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