ORLANDO, Fla. – An elderly woman died inside an Orlando home that caught fire Thursday morning, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.
Assistant Chief John Westmoreland said a woman and three children were able to escape the flames.
The fire was first reported at 10:21 a.m. and when firefighters arrived on scene 4 minutes later, the modular home on Charlin Parkway was 50 percent involved.
"These types of occupancies have a tendency to burn quickly because of what they're made of," Westmoreland said. "Certainly when we arrived on scene, 50 percent involvement is a lot of fire."
Westmoreland said officials believe the fire started in a bedroom. The elderly woman who died was unable to escape the burning home where she lived. The victim's age was not immediately available.
"It's reported that it started inside a bedroom. The state fire marshal 's investigation will give us confirmation on the origin of the fire," Westmoreland said.
Officials said the victim's adult daughter, her two children and her cousin got out of the home.
Jose Torres, who lives in the neighborhood, said a neighbor tried to save the elderly woman from the burning home.
"She starts screaming, like 'I'm here, I'm here papi' to him because she knows him. But when he tried to grab it, the burns coming off from the windows and everything so he couldn't do nothing," Torres said.
Torres called the victim a "good woman" and said her death is a tragedy.
"That's so sad because it's people you're talking to one day and the next day you don't see her. That's sad," he said.
About 25 to 30 firefighters were at the residence Thursday morning to extinguish the flames.
Investigators said they have not uncovered any indications of suspicious activity surrounding the fire.
The state fire marshal is investigating.
"A final determination into the cause, nature and origin of this fire incident remains under current investigation," said Lance Tomkins, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Investigative and Forensic Services.