From the Berlin Citizen…

A house fire at 110 Butternut Lane Friday afternoon around 2:30 left the residence heavily damaged and its sole occupant with injuries that proved fatal. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

According to Deputy Fire Marshal Matt Odishoo roofers on the house next door smelled smoke and then saw smoke coming from the eaves and attic area of the ranch house. The roofers obtained a key from neighbors and tried to enter the house, but the smoke made that impossible. The fire call came in at 2:27 p.m. Kensington Volunteer Fire Department was the first on the scene and firefighters found heavy smoke coming out the front door.

Lillian Bolin, an elderly woman with health problems, was still alive when fire personal arrived at the scene. Hunters Ambulance was immediately summoned as was LifeStar. Bolin was treated at the scene and then flown by LifeStar to Bridgeport Hospital. She succumbed due to her injuries around 9:30 p.m.

Odishoo said the fire was mainly in the area between the kitchen and the dining room. He said “the fire was quickly knocked down.” However, the entire house did sustain smoke damage.