Smoke pours from a residence in the 800 block of McBee Street after 10 p.m. Thursday. Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS

ONE PERSON AIRLIFTED
FROM THURSDAY FIRE

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- A 30-year-old woman died and was brought back to life Thursday night after being pulled from a burning house in the 800 block of McBee Street.

Lincolnton Police Lt. Dwite Shehan was the first official on the scene and he tried valiantly to make entry into the house to save the woman.

"It was too hot," said Shehan. "I couldn't see for all the smoke."

Authorities were told by homeowner Marlene Anderson her friend was visiting and was probably in the bathroom area of the residence, which was in the center of the house.

Lincolnton firefighters quickly made entry to the house and pulled the woman from the middle of the residence. She was in cardiac arrest and revived by medic personnel.

She was airlifted from Carolinas Medical Center Lincoln to the burn center in Winston-Salem.

"The victim appeard to have suffered primarily from smoke inhalation," said EMS supervisor Paul DuPree.

Neighbors didn't know what was going on at first.

"I was already in the bed," said one neighbor. "And I heard sirens but I dismissed them. Then I saw the red lights in the window and said 'Oh Lord.'"

As of early Friday morning, the victim's name or her condition haven't been released.

"The firefighters really did an outstanding job," said Dupree. "Everybody got to her very quick, and the victim responded very well."