SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. -
A house went up in flames last night in South Burlington, and killed the home-owner inside.
We first reported on this local tragedy yesterday, and today, we have exclusive new details from the neighbor who heard the smoke alarm and called 911.
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Aside from the yellow police tape that lined the house on Catkin Court in South Burlington, you wouldn't know it was the site of a fatal fire. Sally Walker was its only victim.
"It's very sad. Death is such a final thing," neighbor, Heather Herath said.
Thursday night, another neighbor heard the smoke alarm and immediately called 911. We talked exclusively with Lauren Levins.
"We turned the TV off, I went upstairs and I could hear it clearly that is was next door," Levins said.
Levins had to evacuate, for what felt like hours.
"In the meantime, I'm just watching my house go up, was my thought," she said.
Fortunately, her home and life were spared. Autopsy results aren't in for Walker, but police say it was the fire that in fact caused her death, not something medical.
"It was started in the middle of the room, it doesn't look like it started from a faulty electrical outlet or anything like that, it was something that ignited the carpet," Association Board President Kurt Lunde said.
We've learned Walker was a smoker, and that the fire was contained to one area on the first floor. She was also agile, so neighbors say it's devastating that she wasn't able to get out alive.
"It looks like the inside of a cave, just black soot all over, everything," Lunde said.
Police haven't ruled out suicide - or arson, but it doesn't appear to be suspicious. The cause is still under investigation.
